Penerapan Intervensi Kompres Dingin terhadap Penurunan Intensitas Nyeri Pasien Post Orif Ekstremitas Bawah di RS Telogorejo Semarang

A fracture occurs when bone continuity is disrupted due to external pressure or force that exceeds the bone's capacity. Fractures constitute a medical emergency requiring immediate treatment. A primary surgical intervention for this condition is the Open Reduction and Internal Fixation (ORIF) procedure, which aims to reposition broken bone fragments to their normal anatomy. This procedure is considered crucial for achieving proper bone union and minimizing the potential for postoperative complications. As a consequence of the surgical incision and tissue trauma, patients commonly experience postoperative pain. The management of this pain can broadly be categorized into two approaches: pharmacological and non-pharmacological. Among non-pharmacological methods, cold compress therapy has proven effective in alleviating pain in patients following ORIF surgery. The sensation of pain can be alleviated through the application of a cold pack by inhibiting sensory nerve conduction and suppressing local inflammation. Simultaneously, cryotherapy also reduces blood flow to the injury site, which in turn limits blood extravasation and the accumulation of edema fluid. A descriptive case study analysis of four patients with acute pain after lower extremity ORIF surgery. The effectiveness of the intervention was measured using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS).: The application of cold compresses using cold packs for 3 days to 4 respondents before the cold compress was applied was on a pain scale of 6–7 (moderate to severe category), after the intervention the pain scale became 2–3 (mild category). The results indicate that cold compress therapy in patients with lower extremity post-ORIF fractures is effective in reducing pain levels. Therefore, cold compress therapy is recommended as a non-pharmacological therapy to reduce pain in patients with fractures after ORIF.