The Effect of a New Multimodal Perioperative Anesthetic Regimen on Postoperative Pain, Side Effects, Rehabilitation, and Length of Hospital Stay After Total Joint Arthroplasty

Abstract 

This study evaluated the effect of a new multimodal perioperative anesthetic and pain management strategy for primary total hip (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Two cohorts of 50 consecutive THA and 50 TKA patients from before and after initiation of the new protocol were compared. The protocol involved scheduled oral narcotics, cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors, no intrathecal narcotics, femoral nerve catheters for TKAs, and local anesthetic wound infiltration. Use of patient-controlled analgesia was discouraged. Physical therapy was attempted on the day of surgery. The demographic data, surgical procedure, and implants were similar. There were statistically significant improvements after the protocol regarding rest-pain scores post-operative day (POD) 1 and 2, total narcotic consumption, distance walked POD 1 and 2, and length of stay. There were no significant differences in complications. Implementation of this new multimodal perioperative protocol combined with early mobilization for TKA and THA patients has shortened length of stay, improved pain control, and accomplished therapy goals sooner with less narcotic consumption.

Key words: total joint arthroplasty, postoperative pain, length of hospital stay