The Effect of Cold Compression on the Surgical Site Post-Subdermal Contraceptive Implant Insertion to Reduce Bruising and Pain among Female Youth in Family Planning: Randomized controlled trial
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Abstract
Objectives: To study the effectiveness of cold compression in reducing bruising and pain around the surgical site following subdermal contraceptive implantation among female youth.
Materials and Methods: Sixty participants aged 18–24 years who attended the family planning clinic for contraceptive implant insertion between March and July 2025 were randomly allocated into two groups. The intervention group (n = 30) received cold compression therapy combined with standard care. A cold compress was applied for 5 minutes before starting the procedure and for 20 minutes at 30 minutes, 7 hours and 18 hours after the procedure. Bruising was assessed at 7, 32, 80 and 152 hours post-procedure. The control group (n = 30) received standard nursing care. Pain was assessed using the visual analog scale (VAS) at 30 minutes, 60 minutes, 8 hours and 19 hours, with a final assessment at 32 hours, during which no cold compress was applied. Bruising and VAS scores were compared at corresponding time points.
Results: The mean size of bruising in the intervention group was significantly smaller than that in the control group at all assessed time points: 7, 32, 80, and 152 hours post-procedure (p = 0.002, < 0.001, < 0.001, and < 0.001, respectively). With comparable initial mean VAS scores, the intervention group also reported significantly lower pain levels than the control group post-procedure at 30 minutes, 60 minutes, 8 hours, and 19 hours (p = 0.039, < 0.001, 0.01, and < 0.001, respectively). However, no significant difference in pain levels was observed between the groups at 32 hours post-procedure, a time point when the intervention group did not receive cold compression.
Conclusion: This study demonstrated that cold compression for 5 minutes before inserting a subdermal implant and for 20 minutes three times within 24 hours was more effective in reducing bruising and pain than standard care. No adverse events were reported.
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