Any way, that is my 2-cents worth. I have no references for the scientific substantiation of the use of ice over heat or contrast baths as the therapy of first use after a traumatic injury. My observations have been, whether working with athletes or MVA's, that patients always respond quicker when ice is applied immediately post accident. The key in my opinion is icing to numbness. Patients that ice without going to numbness usually have a longer recovery time.
Frequency is another big factor.
Again patients that ice hourly usually fair better than those who ice once or twice a day. I would like to see the citation for Dr. Seaman's paper as all the literature I have shows that no anti-inflammatory effect has been found for ice. RICE protocols were developed anecdotally. They have been used for many years prior to our ability to research the mechanism. The fact that something may be found to be clinically effective does not validate the theory upon which it supposedly rests.