Modified oral cryotherapy protocol associated with reduced pain in HSCT recipients with oral mucositis

A retrospective cohort study evaluated an optimized nursing protocol for oral mucositis pain management in 361 hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients. The intervention group received modified oral cryotherapy using a Kangfuxin solution ice slurry plus adjunctive bilateral cheek cryotherapy with ice packs, while the comparator group received conventional nursing practice. The primary outcome was not explicitly stated, but secondary outcomes included oral mucositis severity and pain levels.

Overall oral mucositis incidence was comparable between groups (conventional: 78.8%, optimized: 78.0%, P = 0.851). However, moderate-to-severe pain (Grade 2-3) was lower in the optimized protocol group (22.8% vs. 39.6%, P = 0.004), representing an absolute risk reduction of 16.8%. Severe pain (Grade 3) showed a 66% relative reduction (4.0% vs. 11.9%), though statistical significance was not reported for this specific comparison.

Safety and tolerability data were not reported. The study's retrospective design represents a key limitation, as it can only show association rather than establish causation. The setting and follow-up duration were also not reported. While the findings suggest a clinically feasible strategy for pain control in this population, they should be interpreted cautiously as observational evidence.