Cryotherapy

• Cryosurgery:
• Whole body cold therapy:
• Local cooling application:

definition

The term "cryotherapy" (kryos = cold) means an alternative, non-drug therapy method in medicine in which cold is used therapeutically. Cryotherapeutic measures are used in numerous specialist areas, e.g. in dermatology and rheumatology. Cryotherapy is now also used in tumor therapy.

The following effects are expected from cryotherapy:

• pain reliever

• anti-inflammatory

• decongestant

• muscle relaxing

• stops bleeding by narrowing blood vessels

• destroys cells or tissue

The cold can be used in various ways in the context of cryotherapy:

Cryosurgery:

tissue is iced upby specifically applying very low temperatures locally. By applying extreme cold (-70 ° C to -200 ° C) should pathologically altered tissue are destroyed. The cryosurgery takes place particularly in the Dermatology frequently usedwhere by means of icing, etc. Tumors, Warts, Dellar warts, excess scars and other tissues should be removed. Newer approaches use this extreme cold also for the therapy of tumors of other organs (e.g. liver-, Prostate cancer).

Whole body cold therapy:

Here the entire organism exposed to the cold.

• This happens for example in cold chamberswhere the temperature is around -110 ° C. The aim is, to favorably influence certain metabolic processes. These procedures are used at chronic rheumatic diseases (e.g. rheumatoid arthritis), but also in mental illness (e.g. Fear-, and sleep disorders). However, this therapy method is very controversial among experts.

• Also within the intensive care treatment a hypothermia (lowered core body temperature) is applied, for example after a heart attack or stroke. Due to the low temperature, the Energy requirements of the corresponding organs (heart, brain) reduced become and thus the Organ damage due to the temporarily reduced blood flow decreased become.

Please also read our pages Therapy of a heart attack and Stroke therapy.

Local cooling application:

Here will local cooling of the underlying tissue achieved (e.g. ice compresses). V.a. in the context of sports medicine after injuries often cooling the affected joints Pain relief used. In addition, the cooling also acts ab swelling and anti-inflammatory.

Please also read our page about the PECH rule for the treatment of sports injuries.

Treatment methods of cryotherapy

In the following, some areas of application of cryotherapeutic procedures will be examined in more detail:

Cryoablation in the cardiology:

This is where cryotherapy becomes Treatment of irregular heartbeat used by those cells in the Heart musclethat are responsible for the rhythm disturbance are switched off by icing. This procedure will do both micro-invasive in the context of cardiac catheter examinations, as well as in the open heart surgery is used. The success rates are comparable to treatment with heat (radio frequency ablation); however, cryoablation is often found to be less painful.

Cryoextraction of the lens of the eye in ophthalmology:

This method is used to Removal of the entire lens of the eye in cataracts (cataract). The lens is frozen and can therefore be completely removed.

Cryostripping in angiology:

Here comes Cold for the therapy of varicose veins for use. A cold probe is used to thread the diseased vessel onto a catheter and freeze it. This can be completely removed within a short time. The This minimizes the risk of a relapse.

Please also read our page Remove varicose veins.

Cryotherapy in dermatology:

Cryotherapeutic methods are also widely used in dermatology. Next All kinds of warts, so will used for malignant tumorswhat was mentioned above.

Read more on the topic: Freeze warts

Cryotherapy in orthopedics:

Also in the area of Orthopedics Cryotherapy is used, for example can for chronic back pain, the cause of which lies in the area of ​​the facet joints, one percutaneous denervation Provide relief. Here the transmission of pain should be prevented by interrupting the corresponding nerve fibers. Since it was icy Nerve fibers to regenerate after a while, that is Duration of action limited to 6-18 months and the procedure then has to be repeated. Besides this, the cryotherapy provides Patients with chronic joint inflammatione.g. rheumatic diseases, Pain relief. Besides the decreased blood flow by Narrowing of blood vessels also leads the decreased transmission through the pain fibers to a relief.

Read about it too Chronic back pain- what works best?

Benefits of cryotherapy

One benefit of cryotherapy is that targeted application. Different sized probes can e.g. In dermatology, only the affected areas of the skin are treated while the surrounding tissue is protected. Cryotherapy is also considered to be relatively painless. V.a. in the case of cryoablation, a clear advantage over heat therapy. In addition, they are Side effects when used properly relatively low. The interventions are also often only performed under local anesthesia, so there is no additional risk of anesthesia.

Risks of cryotherapy

Overall, some cryotherapy methods are still considered to be alternative healing methods. Also the effectiveness is not always scientifically founded. Thus, advice should always be given first about the chances of success, alternatives and risks of cryotherapeutic treatment. The most important general risks are the following:

• Frostbite: Even the superficial application of cold for a few minutes can cause frostbite. Here can Tissue die. Ice should therefore be used to cool deeper tissues never directly on the skin be placed. Ice compresses should be in a Cloth wrapped become.

• Within the scope of cryosurgery, there can be a Blistering come. The bladder filled with tissue fluid can open and such a thing Entry gate for pathogens represent. To avoid this, it is advisable to use external treated areas Always covered until healing to keep.

Cryotherapy for warts

Warts are benign epithelial growths the top one Skin layer (epidermis), which differ from the surrounding skin sharply delimited let and often slightly raised are. You will go through Viruses causes and can therefore possibly contagious be.
Despite their tendency themselves to regress by itself after a few months, is the Recurrence rate (Recurrence rate) Quite high. In addition, warts can get through Self-infection spread further. That is why treatment for warts is often resorted to.

The icing (Cryotherapy) is one of the most popular and also most successful methodsTo treat warts. On the one hand, it is considered more effectivethan the application of salicylic acid, on the other hand, it doesn't go like that surgical removal of the wart with the formation of scar hand in hand. Another great advantage is that with products available in pharmacies, the independent application without a dermatologist can be done.

application

First is a Applicator (most of time referred to as a probe) with a suitable coolant filled. This is usually done liquid nitrogen or a Diethyl ether-propane mixture used. Also liquid Laughing gas or dry ice (solid carbon dioxide) are used. The probe prepared in this way cools down within a very short time less than -50 ° C from and can now for 15-25 seconds be placed on the affected skin area.

This can, if necessary, now repeated several times become. However, caution should be exercised around deeper layers of tissue not to damage unnecessarily. The top layer of skin is covered by the Cold killed and in the next few days repelled. Especially superficial warts, such as Mosaic warts, can be treated so well. Deep-seated wart types, such as Plantar warts, but usually require one operative therapy.

Using a Sprays to apply the coolant is also possible. However, this procedure is generally considered to be less effective, since a targeted application is more difficult and not quite as low temperatures can be achieved. Both methods can be used by one Dermatologist, as well as with products available in pharmacies applied myself become.

Side effects

In general, when using a Cryotherapy for warts in healthy patients not with serious side effects to be expected. A Blistering after treatment is possible, however not questionableeven if it can be accompanied by pain.
Wound healing disorders can especially with Diabetics occur. You shouldn't be sure if this is the case affected skin area is actually a wart, it is Seeking a dermatologist to recommend.

Spine

Under the Concept of cryotherapy be in the case of the spine two different treatments summarized. On the one hand, a Cold therapy in a cold chamber be meant. Mostly one understands by the term, however, comparable with the treatment of warts, one icing. In the special case of the spine, this is the one minimally invasive icing of the arthritis-afflicted vertebral joints and of them supplying nerves (Denervation) meant with which following sections of text will deal.

Areas of application

The Cryodenervation at various chronic pain in the area of ​​the trunk if physiotherapeutic, physical or medicinal measures in the form of tablets or Local anesthesia (Syringes) to none permanent pain relief lead more. This includes, for example Facet syndrome (Arthrosis of the intervertebral joints), radiating pain after a disc prolapse or after one Disc surgery and pain due to a osteoporosis. The easier it is to localize the pain, the higher it is Chances of success of the treatment.

execution

Cyrotherapy of the spine takes place on an outpatient basis. After here one extensive diagnostics of the spine including neurological and radiological examinations the treatment can be done without anesthesia be performed under local anesthesia.
Here is a carbon dioxide cooled probe under imaging control and using a Nerve stimulator brought to the treatment site through a small incision and the corresponding nerve iced over.

The Duration of the procedure itself amounts about 15-20 min. After a short period of monitoring, the patient can be discharged. The previous one Stop taking blood-thinning medication, such as Marcumar, is obligatory as with any other operation.

forecast

The Cryodenervation is called very gentle, low-risk and with a good chance of success about 70% described. A The pain subsides takes place immediately during the application and leads to Success to a pain reduction for the next year or two. A subsequent program for Building the back muscle culture is highly recommended.

Cold chamber

Sometimes also as Cryotherapy and another option for treatment chronic back pain and rheumatic complaints generally, is the so-called Whole body cryotherapy (GKT). Here, the patient becomes increasingly cold in a cold chamber until finally about -110 ° C exposed. Nevertheless positive effects have been described several times, the method is nevertheless controversialsince until now no extensive studies available to their effect.