Decreasing Post-Operative Narcotic Usage Following Total Knee Arthroplasty Requires More than Simple Education: A...

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic surgery
• Pain management
• Patient education

Background:

• Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) often requires post-operative opioid pain management.
• Opioid consumption and its impact on patient recovery are significant concerns.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a patient opioid education document in reducing opioid consumption following TKA.
• To assess the impact of patient education on post-operative pain scores and functional recovery.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial comparing an intervention group (receiving opioid education) with a control group.
• Patients were matched based on age, sex, and surgery date.
• Opioid consumption, pain scores (VAS), and functional status (driving ability) were assessed at 5 weeks post-surgery.

Main Results:

• No significant difference in the mean number of dispensed opioid pills between the groups.
• No significant difference in mean 2-week or 5-week post-operative VAS pain scores.
• Significantly fewer patients in the education cohort reported driving at 5 weeks post-surgery compared to the control cohort.

Conclusions:

• A single patient opioid education document may not be sufficient to decrease overall opioid consumption after TKA.
• Reducing post-operative opioid use likely necessitates a multifaceted approach.
• Patient education might influence functional recovery milestones, such as the ability to drive.