• So Young Joo, June-Bum Kim, Yoon Soo Cho, Yong Suk Cho, and Cheong Hoon Seo.
• Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Hangang Sacred Heart Hospital, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
• Burns. 2018 Jun 1; 44 (4): 1005-1010.

PurposePruritus, a common, chronically disabling condition is often refractory to treatment. The pruritus sensation is mediated in the spinal cord and post-burn pruritus is considered a form of neuropathic pain. We investigated cold pack therapy as a treatment modality for post-burn pruritus.MethodsWe studied 23 patients with severe pruritus scoring at least 5 on the visual analogue scale (VAS) and refractory to antihistamine and gabapentin administration. Each cold pack therapy lasted more than 20min. Patients participated in more than three sessions daily for 4 consecutive weeks. The numerical rating scale (NRS), 5-D Itch Scale, Leuven Itch Scale, and perfusion units were evaluated before, within 30min after, 2, and 4 weeks cold pack therapy.ResultsIn all patients, the NRS was 9.37±1.47 pre-therapy, 3.48±2.19 at 2 weeks, and 2.78±2.13 at 4 weeks following therapy, the pre-scores being significantly different (p<0.001). Pruritus severity and consequences scores (Leuven Itch Scale) were improved after therapy compared to pre-therapy. Perfusion unit (PU) scores were statistically insignificant compared to PU scores measured before the application of cold pack therapy. Degree, direction, and disability scores (5-D Itch scale) significantly differed (p<.05).ConclusionCold pack therapy, a non-invasive, non-pharmacological treatment modality significantly reduces post-burn pruritus and could be useful in burn patients.Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd and ISBI. All rights reserved.

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