Iovera°

Why St. Joseph Hospital

As part of our commitment to provide targeted pain relief without the use of opioids, St. Joseph Hospital is now offering the iovera° treatment, an innovative approach to blocking pain both before and after knee surgery. The iovera° treatment is a clinically proven, non-opioid, pain management solution that uses the body’s natural response to cold to relieve pain.

The iovera° system is used to destroy tissue during surgical procedures by applying freezing cold. It can also be used to produce lesions in peripheral nervous tissue by the application of cold to the selected site for the blocking of pain. It is also indicated for the relief of pain and symptoms associated with osteoarthritis of the knee for up to 90 days. The iovera° system is not indicated for treatment of central nervous system tissue. It is important to note that iovera° does not treat the underlying cause of pain. Timely remediation is necessary to address and treat the cause of pain. iovera° has been studied in clinical trials of patients prior to total knee arthroplasty and to treat the pain and symptoms of knee osteoarthritis.

knee replacement, pain management, hip replacement

The iovera° system’s “1×90” Smart Tip configuration (indicating one needle which is 90 mm long) can also facilitate target nerve location by conducting electrical nerve stimulation from a separate nerve stimulator.

With the iovera system, our doctors are able to deliver precise, controlled doses of cold through a portable, handheld device. Pain relief with the iovera° treatment is immediate and can last up to 90 days. During the simple outpatient procedure, iovera° safely and effectively allows patients with knee pain to leave their physician’s office experiencing less pain than they had when they walked in.

“Traditionally, opioid pain medications have been the first line of defense against knee pain, both before and immediately after surgery, despite causing side effects that can detract from a patient’s recovery experience,” said Dr Singanallur, Chief of Anesthesiology at St. Joseph Hospital. “The iovera° system has allowed us to reach for a new standard of enhanced recovery and patient care in our institution.”

The iovera° system should not be used in people with the following conditions:

Blood that thickens when patient is exposed to cold (cryoglobulinemia), blood appearing in the urine when patient is exposed to the cold (paroxysmal cold hemoglobinuria), skin rash that appears when patient is exposed to the cold (cold urticaria), narrowing of the blood vessels in the hands and feet when patient is exposed to the cold (Raynaud’s disease), and open and/or infected wounds at or near he treatment site

Patients being treated with the iovera° system (a needle-based therapy) may experience certain reactions, including, but not limited to:

Bruising, swelling, inflammation and/or redness, local pain and/or tenderness, and altered feeling at the site of application

Proper use of the device as described in the User Guide can help reduce or prevent the following reactions:

In the area(s) where you were treated: damage to the skin from being exposed to cold or heat, darkening or lightening of the skin and dimples of the skin
Outside the area(s) where you were treated: muscles may not work or move normally

At St. Joseph Hospital, we customize care plans for every patient. We recommend contacting your Orthopedic Surgeon to see if the iovera° is right for you.