Electrocryotherapy - a new treatment of Sudeck's syndrome

Journal/Book: Physikalische Medizin Rehabilitationsmedizin Kurortmedizin. 1993; 3/1: 16-18.

Abstract: Cryoelectrotherapy is a combination of classical electrotherapy - utilizing interference current - a cryotherapy, with deepfrozen tissue as one of the electrodes. The combination of these two methods offers substantial advantages: it contributes the analgesic effect of the interferential current as well as that of cryotherapy; moreover, in view of the analgesic effect of local ice, the patient tolerates a higher current intensity than normally.The efficacy and safety of electrotherapy were compared with those of interferential therapy and of cryotherapy in 60 patients suffering from acute algodystrophy of the knee. The patients were randomly divided into three groups of 20 and each group was treated for three weeks with cryotherapy, interferential therapy or cryoelectrotherapy. Efficacy was evaluated by comparing pain, inflammatory indices and objective measurements of individual joint movements. All patients received only NSAR drugs and exercises.At the end of the treatment period the evaluated parameters showed an improvement in all groups.

Keyword(s): Sudecksches Syndrom

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