At Tahoe Forest Orthopedics & Sports Medicine, we are committed to offering the latest and most advanced pain management treatments. As a part of this commitment, we proudly offer the iovera° treatment to help provide pain relief without the use of medication for patients undergoing total knee replacement as well as those who are suffering from osteoarthritis of the knee.

What is the iovera° treatment?

The iovera° treatment is a focused cold therapy. It uses the body’s natural response to cold to block the signaling portion of a peripheral nerve, which temporarily reduces pain.1 Because nothing is injected into the targeted area, there are no systemic side effects that are typically experienced with medication, such as NSAIDs or narcotics. However, mild localized side effects from the iovera° treatment have been observed.

iovera device and box image

What to expect

Our specialty-trained providers will use a portable, handheld device to deliver a concentrated, focused cold zone to the targeted area. This treatment is safe and causes no damage to the surrounding tissues.2 Additionally, as a minimally invasive outpatient procedure, you will be able to go home following the procedure. You should also leave experiencing less knee pain than when you walked into our office.

To learn more about iovera° or to schedule an appointment, please call (530) 587-7461 or make an appointment request.

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Important information

Indication

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. The iovera° system’s “1x90” 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.

Important safety information

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)
  • Open and/or infected wounds at or near the 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
  • 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 in the skin
  • Outside the area(s) where you were treated: muscles may not work or move normally

For more information, visit www.iovera.com.

References

  1. Dasa V, Lensing G, Parsons M, Harris J, Volaufova J, Bliss R. Percutaneous freezing of sensory nerves prior to total knee arthroplasty. Knee. 2016;23(3):523-528.
  2. Hsu M, Stevenson FF. Wallerian degeneration and recovery of motor nerves after multiple focused cold therapies. Muscle Nerve. 2015;51(2):268-275.