Impact of the cold and warm dressing on postoperative pain and hips joint activity in patients with intertrochanteric fracture

Objective To investigate the impact of the cold and warm dressing on intertrochanteric fracture patients' postoperative pain and hips joint activity.Methods 182 intertrochanteric fracture patients in Taian TSCM Hospital from June 2007 to June 2010 were randomly divided into control group (85 cases) and observation group (91 cases). The patients in control group received conventional care and rehabilitation training guidance,while the patients in the observation,on this basis,received immediate postoperative cold dressing on the sides of the hip for 20 min with the interval of 20 min for continuous 3 days,warm dressing by hot water bag of the temperature of 40 ℃ before rehabilitation training from the 4th day,and immediate cold dressing after the training for 20 min for continuous 3 days.The pain,swelling and activity of hip joints were compared between the two groups.Results Compared with the control group,the pain in hips of the observation group during 6,12,24,48 h after the surgery were milder,and the differences were statistically significant (Z =-4.154,-3.608,-2.923,-2.261,respectively;P ＜0.05).The swelling of the observation group during 24,48,72 h after the surgery were better,and the differences were statistically significant (Z =- 2.934,- 3.033,- 3.854,respectively ;P ＜ 0.01).The pain and swelling of the observation group from 4 to 6 days after the surgery were both less,and the differences were statistically significant (Z =- 3.693,- 2.879,- 2.778,- 2.921,- 3.339,- 2.708,respectively; P ＜ 0.01).The excellent rate of hip joint function 1 and 3 months after the surgery of the observation group were 79.1％ and 92.3％,better than that of the control group which were 62.3％ and 80％,and the differences were statistically significant (x2 =6.004,5.653 ; P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Cold and warm dressing can effectively reduce postoperative pain and swelling of the hip,and is helpful for postoperative rehabilitation training to improve the activity of the hip. Key words: Hip joint; Intertrochanteric fracture; Cold and warm dressing; Postoperative pain