ABSTRACT
Introduction:
Cryotherapy is a therapeutic modality that aims to reduce inflammatory and painful processes, with immersion being considered the most effective form; however, the literature has possible deleterious effects related to the application of cryotherapy to superficial nerves.
Objective:
To evaluate the effect of cryotherapy in experimental model of sciatic nerve compression in Wistar rats, through morphologic and functional analysis.
Methods:
Forty-two rats were used, six animals per group: G1 - control euthanized on the 15th postoperative day (PO); G2, G3 and G4 - submitted to sciatic nerve compression, euthanized at 3rd, 8th and 15th PO days, respectively; G5, G6 and G7 - submitted to sciatic nerve compression and treated with cryotherapy, euthanized at 3rd, 8th and 15th PO days, respectively. The assessments of sciatic functional index (SFI) and the functional disability test took place at the pre-injury, 2nd PO and on the day of euthanasia in each group with injury. After the intervention period, the animals were anesthetized properly and the sciatic nerve distal to the compression procedure was dissected and collected for morphological analysis. Statistical analysis was by the mixed ANOVA test with a significance level of 5%.
Results:
There was a decrease of SFI after injury and the functional disability test showed an increase in paw elevation time. Regarding the morphological analysis, the G1 showed normal nerve fibers and in the groups with lesion, there was nerve degeneration, G6 had a slight recovery of the nerve fibers, besides mild regeneration in G4 and G7.
Conclusion:
Cryotherapy was not effective to recover the functional parameters analyzed; however, there was a slight improvement in the morphological aspects of the group euthanized on the 8th PO day. Level of Evidence II; Therapeutic studies - Investigating the results of treatment.
Keywords:
Nerve compression syndromes; Sciatic nerve; Physical therapy modalities; Cryotherapy; Pain measurement.
