Oklahoma Surgical Hospital and Advanced Orthopedics of Oklahoma
Tulsa, OK
The surgical and non-surgical staff at Advanced Orthopedics of Oklahoma (AOOK) in conjunction with Oklahoma Surgical Hospital (OSH) worked together to implement an iovera˚ patient protocol for their chronic osteoarthritic pain patients and pre-total knee surgery patients. Listen to the team describe this journey in their own words, including the institutional changes they’re seeing to overall patient outcomes and care.

Oklahoma Surgical Hospital and Advanced Orthopedics of Oklahoma

Integration Champions Sarat Kunapuli, DO, and Christopher Browne, MD

Clinical Staff Chris Stephens, PA, Rob Ellison, PT, and Julie Keyes, RN

William Barrett, MD and Jana Flener, PA-C

Pieter Vreede
IndicationThe 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 90mm long) can also facilitate target nerve location by conducting electrical nerve stimulation from a separate nerve simulator.
Important Safety Information
ContraindicationsThe iovera° system is contraindicated for use in patients with the following:
- Cryoglobulinemia, paroxysmal cold hemoglobinuria, cold urticaria, Raynaud’s disease, and open and/or infected wounds at or near the treatment site
Potential ComplicationsAs with any surgical treatment that uses needle-based therapy and local anesthesia, there is a potential for site-specific reactions, including, but not limited to:
- Ecchymosis, edema, erythema, local pain and/or tenderness, and localized dysesthesia
Proper use of the device as described in the User Guide can help reduce or prevent the following complications:
- At the treatment site(s): injury to the skin related to application of cold or heat, hyper- or hypopigmentation, and skin dimpling
- Outside the treatment site(s): loss of motor function