Year : 2017

Volume : Volume 7

Issue : Issue 3

Address for correspondence :
Dr. Aditi R
aditir@gmail.com

Abstract

Background:  Craniomaxillofacial surgical procedures regardless of the operative techniques, have facial pain and oedema as the most common postoperative sequelae restricting the function. In the present era, there has been a significant increase in newer innovations in medicine in lieu of demand for high grade medical services as a result of health consciousness among people and improved quality of life, becoming the choice for majority. Given the increasing importance of enhanced recovery after surgery, combined use of analgesics and antiinflammatory drugs as the therapy of choice for relieving pain and edema have been described in literature and practiced since long time. In addition to drug therapies, compression bandages, massage therapy and cryotherapy have also been used. Cryotherapy is the application of ice packs to decrease local temperature. Recently, a new technique has been introduced as Hilotherapy which utilizes water cooled mask for postoperative pain and swelling, has been shown to be more effective than standard cryotherapy. The purpose of this review article is to evaluate the effectiveness and various applications of hilotherapy in craniomaxillofacial procedures.

Keywords: Hilotherapy, cryotherapy, pain, oedema, maxillofacial surgery.