Analysis of cryotherapy penetration: a comparison of the plaster cast, synthetic cast, Ace wrap dressing, and Robert-Jones dressing.

Abstract

Four groups were studied to determine the cooling effect at skin level of ice application over common ankle bandages and casts. The plaster cast, synthetic cast, and Ace wrap dressing groups had 18 participants and the Robert-Jones dressing group had four participants. In a standardized fashion, ice bags were applied over each bandage or cast and skin temperatures were measured with a thermocouple over a 90-min period. The average final skin temperature was 16.5 degrees in the plaster cast, 18.8 degrees in the synthetic cast, 21.2 degrees in the Ace wrap dressing, and 28.7 degrees in the Robert-Jones dressing. The temperature curves showed that ice application effectively decreased skin temperatures through the plaster cast, synthetic cast, and Ace wrap dressing. The cooler temperature did not adequately penetrate the Robert-Jones dressing.