The effect of local cooling on postfracture swelling. A controlled study.

Observations on rabbit hindlimbs following tibial fracture suggest that no regimen of cooling lessens swelling. Temperatures of 5 degrees to 15 degrees led to significantly increased swelling when applied for 24 hours. Increased swelling is the product of the perfusion of vessels rendered hyperpermeable by cold induced ischemia, and indicates that controlled investigations are needed to establish the validity of local cooling in orthopedic management.