Cryostick pre-cooling reduces pain during intra-articular knee injections: a randomized, contralateral-controlled trial.
Burin Sutthapakti, Pongsom Luanghirun, Ratchaphon Khasemsiri et al.
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In 30 seconds
This randomized, contralateral-controlled trial evaluated the efficacy of a 20-second cryostick application in reducing pain during intra-articular knee injections in 50 patients with bilateral knee osteoarthritis. The study found that cryostick application significantly reduced pain during needle penetration (Mean Difference -24.8 mm) and at 5 minutes post-injection (Mean Difference -20.8 mm), while also decreasing bleeding area and improving patient satisfaction.
Key findings
- Cryostick application reduced pain during needle penetration by 24.8 mm (P < 0.001).
- At 5 minutes post-injection, pain was reduced by 20.8 mm (P < 0.001).
- The bleeding area was significantly smaller with cryostick application (MD -4.82 mm²; P = 0.014).
- Patient satisfaction scores were higher with cryostick (4.10 vs 2.96; P < 0.001).
Why it matters
Reducing pain and improving patient satisfaction during intra-articular injections can enhance the overall experience for patients with osteoarthritis, potentially leading to better adherence to treatment protocols and improved outcomes.