Type of Surgery
Information
Last updated: 02/17/2009
BOOKS
Dawber, R., G. Colver, A. Jackson, and F. Pringle. CutaneousCryosurgery: Principles and Clinical Practice, 2nd ed. Oxford: Blackwell Science Inc., 1996.
Korpan, N. N. Basics of Cryosurgery. New...
York: Springer Verlag, 2002.
Lynch, Peter J., and W. Mitchell Sams Jr. Principles and Practice of Dermatology, 2nd ed. New York: Churchill Livingstone, 1996.
Roenigk, Randall K., and Henry H. Roenigk Jr. Roenigk andRoenigk's Dermatologic Surgery: Principles and Practice. New York: Marcel Dekker, 1996.
PERIODICALS
Housman, T. S., and J. L. Jorizzo. "Anecdotal Reports of Three Cases Illustrating a Spectrum of Resistant Common Warts Treated with Cryotherapy Followed by Topical Imiquimod and Salicylic Acid."Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology 47 (October 2002): 1501–1505.
Otte, J. W., M. A. Merrick, C. D. Ingersoll, and M. L. Cordova. "Subcutaneous Adipose Tissue Thickness Alters Cooling Time during Cryotherapy."Archives of Physical and Medical Rehabilitation 83 (November 2002): 1501–1505.
Palner, E. A., et al. "Cryotherapy for Retinopathy of Prematurity Cooperative Group. Multicenter Trial of Cryotherapy for Retinopathy of Prematurity: Ophthalmological Outcomes at 10 Years."Archives of Ophthalmology 119 (2001): 1110–1118.
Uchio, Y., M. Ochi, A. Fujihara, N. Adachi, J. Iwasa, and Y. Sakai. "Cryotherapy Influences Joint Laxity and Position Sense of the Healthy Knee Joint."Archives of Physical and Medical Rehabilitation 84 (January 2003): 131–135.
Wozniacka, A., A. Omulecki, and J. D. Torzecka. "Cryotherapy in the Treatment of Angiolymphoid Hyperplasia with Eosinophilia."Medical Science Monitor 9 (January 2003): CS1–CS4.
ORGANIZATIONS
American Academy of Dermatology. 930 N. Meacham Road, P.O. Box 4014, Schaumburg, IL 60168-4014. (847) 330-0230. Fax: (847) 330-0050.
American Society for Dermatologic Surgery. 930 N. Meacham Road, PO Box 4014, Schaumburg, IL 60168-4014. (847) 330-9830.
OTHER
"Cryotherapy."Family Practice Notebook.
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Other Information
Cryotherapy (Cryogenic chamber therapy) is a treatment whereby the patient is placed in a cryogenic chamber for a short duration, i.e. no more than three minutes, which is comparable to ice swimming, and if used properly, will not destroy tissue. The term "cryotherapy" comes from the Greek cryo (κρυο) meaning cold and the word therapy (θεραπεια) meaning cure.
Whole Body Cryotherapy initially originated in Japan in 1978. However, it was a group of Polish scientists who took the idea and made Whole Body Cryotherapy the physical therapy it is today. The Olympic rehabilitation centre in Spala, Poland opened in May 2000 and has been used as a training and injury rehabilitation centre for many sporting bodies.
The chamber is cooled, typically with liquid nitrogen, to a temperature of –110 C. The patient is protected from acute frostbite with socks, gloves and mouth and ear protection, but in addition to that, wears nothing but a bathing suit. The patients spends a few minutes in the chamber. During treatment the average skin temperature drops 12 C, while the coldest skin temperature can be 5 C. The core body temperature remains unchanged during the treatment, while after it, it may drop slightly. Curiously enough, some patients compare the feeling to sauna at +110 C. Release of endorphines occurs, resulting in analgesia (immediate pain relief).
Patients report the experience is invigorating and improves a variety of conditions. These include symptoms of psychological stress, insomnia, rheumatism, muscle and joint pain, fibromyalgia, itching, and psoriasis. The immediate effect of skin cooling and analgesia lasts for 5 minutes, but the release of endorphines can have a lasting effect, where the pains and signs of inflammation as found in blood tests remain suppressed for weeks. The effects of extreme cold and endorphine release are scientifically studied.
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryotherapy_(chamber_therapy)
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