Clinical outcomes after total knee replacement using two cryocompression devices after surgery
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN51498119 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN51498119 |
| ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT) | Nil known |
| Clinical Trials Information System (CTIS) | Nil known |
| Integrated Research Application System (IRAS) | 345621 |
| Protocol serial number | 1.0 |
| Sponsor | Physiolab Technologies Ltd |
| Funder | Physiolab Technologies Ltd |
- Submission date
- 28/11/2024
- Registration date
- 16/01/2025
- Last edited
- 23/07/2025
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Overall study status
- Ongoing
- Condition category
- Musculoskeletal Diseases
Plain English summary of protocol
Background and study aims
The application of cold and pressure following knee surgery is known to result in superior clinical outcomes compared to when none is used. Cryocompression therapy aims to reduce swelling, inflammation, and pain by reducing blood flow and nerve sensitivity in the area. There are several different technologies available that provide cryocompression therapy with varying levels of control over treatment variables. Gravity-assisted devices and electronic continuous cold-flow devices both work by taking ice water from a central reservoir to a cuff wrapped around the desired therapy area. The cuff of gravity-assisted devices is filled with cold water and then left in situ until it re-warms, at which point the cuff can be drained and re-filled with more cold water. Electronic devices continuously pump user-determined temperature-controlled water through the cuff from the central reservoir, while the cuff applies a pre-selected level of compression. This study aims to compare the clinical outcomes of patients following total knee replacement surgery when using either a gravity-assisted or electronic cryocompression device as part of their acute post-operative rehabilitation. This will allow clinicians and patients in future to choose the most effective modality for cryocompression therapy to improve and optimise post-operative outcomes.
Who can participate?
Adult patients undergoing unilateral primary total knee replacement surgery at Spire Methley Park Hospital in the UK
What does the study involve?
Participants will be randomised to receive either a gravity-assisted or electronic device to be used in the hospital following their operation and for the first 2 postoperative weeks while at home. Treatments will be applied for 30 minutes, every 2 waking hours for the first 2 postoperative weeks by either clinical staff (while in hospital) or the patient themselves (while at home). Participants will complete subjective outcome scores daily for the first 14 days after surgery.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
There are no additional benefits or risks to patients receiving the gravity-assisted device, as this represents the current standard of care within the hospital. There is a potential additional benefit to participants in the experimental group as the electronic device is expected to result in greater improvements in clinical outcomes. There is no foreseen additional risk for users of the electronic device as it will be used within its UKCA-marked purpose. As long as participants adhere to the prescribed treatment frequency outlined above, the risk of adverse events as a result of the cryocompression treatments is deemed to be extremely low. Participants will be trained while in the hospital by a clinical member of staff to show them how to apply each device correctly and to discuss the appropriate treatment protocol, along with the potential risks of deviating from it.
Where is the study run from?
Spire Methley Park Hospital (Leeds, UK)
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
June 2024 to February 2026. Recruitment is expected to start in August 2025 and run until the end of January 2026.
Who is funding the study?
There is no monetary funding for the study, though Physiolab Technologies Ltd is acting as the sponsor for the study and will provide the electronic devices that will be used by the experimental group.
Who is the main contact?
Catherine Venable, Physiotherapy Manager, catherine.venable@spirehealthcare.com
Contact information
Public, Scientific
Physiolab Technologies Ltd
Unit 2 Centurion Court
Brick Close
Kiln Farm
Milton Keynes
MK11 3JB
United Kingdom
 ORCID ID |
0000-0001-7405-9281 |
|---|---|
| Phone | +44 (0)7799040556 |
| kneeresearch@pm.me |
Principal investigator
Spire Methley Park Hospital
Methley Lane
Methley
Leeds
LS26 9HG
United Kingdom
| Phone | 01977 664231 |
|---|---|
| charlotte.kendrick-Allott@spirehealthcare.com |
Study information
| Primary study design | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Study design | Single-centre multi-surgeon randomized controlled trial |
| Secondary study design | Randomised controlled trial |
| Study type | Participant information sheet |
| Scientific title | Outcomes after total knee arthroplasty when using either a gravity-assisted or electronic continuous cold-flow cryocompression device during the acute postoperative period |
| Study acronym | CryoTKA |
| Study objectives | Pre- to post-operative improvements in clinical outcomes will be observed within both groups. The degree of improvement will be greater in the group using the electronic device compared to the gravity-assisted device. |
| Ethics approval(s) |
Approved 25/06/2025, East of England - Cambridge East Research Ethics Committee (2 Redman Place, Stratford, London, E20 1JQ, United Kingdom; +44 (0)207 1048181 ; cambridgeeast.rec@hra.nhs.uk), ref: 25/EE/0078 |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | Clinical outcomes for patients following unilateral total knee arthroplasty |
| Intervention | Patients will be randomised to receive cryocompression therapy using either an electronic continuous cold-flow device (experimental group) or a gravity-assisted cryocompression device (control group - current standard-of-care within the hospital). Randomisation will be performed in advance of participant recruitment using a random number generator, where “1” represents the experimental group and “2” represents the control group, and patients will be allocated to a group in order of the randomised sequence at the point of recruitment. Treatments will be applied in 30-minute bouts every 2 waking hours after surgery, for the first 14 post-operative days. The electronic device will be set to apply a continuous temperature of 8℃ and intermittent compression of 25-50mmHG throughout each treatment. The gravity-assisted device does not allow for the selection of applied temperatures and pressures. |
| Intervention type | Device |
| Phase | Not Applicable |
| Drug / device / biological / vaccine name(s) | Physiolab S1 continuous cold-flow device. ProMedics CryoPro device. |
| Primary outcome measure(s) |
Subjective pain using a Numerical Pain Rating Scale measured at baseline, then on post-operative days 1, 7, and 14. |
| Key secondary outcome measure(s) |
1. Range-of-motion measured using a goniometer at baseline, then on postoperative days 1 and 7 |
| Completion date | 28/02/2026 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Patient |
|---|---|
| Age group | Mixed |
| Lower age limit | 18 Years |
| Upper age limit | 150 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Target sample size at registration | 52 |
| Key inclusion criteria | Adults scheduled to undergo TKA at Spire Methley Park Hospital (Leeds, UK) |
| Key exclusion criteria | 1. Revision TKA 2. Bilateral TKA 3. Cold urticaria/allergy 4. Known haematological condition that affects clotting 5. Regenerating nerves under the intended therapy area 6. Tissues affected by tuberculosis in the intended therapy area 7. Current or suspected deep vein thrombosis and/or pulmonary embolus 8. Nervous system damage causing muscle tightness with a reduced ability to stretch 9. Cognitive impairment/disabilities or communication barriers 10. Significantly impaired circulation in the intended therapy area 11. Chronic wounds near the intended therapy area 12. Malignant tumour in the affected limb or therapy area 13. Haemorrhaging tissue or any untreated haemorrhagic disorders |
| Date of first enrolment | 20/08/2025 |
| Date of final enrolment | 31/01/2026 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- United Kingdom
- England
Study participating centre
Methley
Leeds
LS26 9HG
United Kingdom
Results and Publications
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | Yes |
|---|---|
| IPD sharing plan summary | Available on request |
| IPD sharing plan | The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study will be available upon request from Dr James Belsey (KneeResearch@pm.me) |
Study outputs
| Output type | Details | Date created | Date added | Peer reviewed? | Patient-facing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Participant information sheet | Participant information sheet | 11/11/2025 | 11/11/2025 | No | Yes |
Editorial Notes
23/07/2025: The following changes were made:
1. The date of first enrolment was changed from 01/01/2025 to 20/08/2025.
2. The date of final enrolment was changed from 31/07/2025 to 31/01/2026.
3. The ethics approval was added.
4. The completion date was changed from 31/12/2025 to 28/02/2026.
02/10/2025: Study's existence confirmed by Physiolab Technologies Ltd.
