Analgesic Protocols in Total Knee Replacement: Early Efficacy and Functional Outcomes
摘要
Comparison of traditional opioid-based analgesic protocols with multimodal pain management strategies in terms of postoperative pain, opioid consumption, and knee range of motion (ROM).
Materials and MethodsThe study included 397 patients (mean age 67.4 ± 8.6 years) undergoing unilateral TKA, divided according to the analgesic protocol: adductor canal block (ACB), periarticular local infiltration anesthesia (LIA), epidural analgesia, and traditional pharmacotherapy. Pain (VAS), opioid consumption (MME), and knee ROM were assessed over 4 postoperative days.
ResultsPostoperative VAS scores differ significantly between cohorts at all time points (p < 0.001). The ACB cohort had the lowest VAS scores on the day of surgery (3.30 ± 2.23) and on postoperative day 4 (2.10 ± 1.05), followed by the LIA cohort (2.30 ± 1.12). Epidural analgesia and traditional pharmacotherapy showed higher pain scores. Knee flexion on day 4 was highest in the ACB cohort (92.4° ± 7.2°), followed by the LIA cohort (88.5° ± 8.3°) (p < 0.001). Opioid consumption was lowest in the ACB cohort (6.3 ± 5.8 MME) and highest in the traditional pharmacotherapy cohort (43.1 ± 12.8 MME) (p < 0.001). BMI significantly influenced opioid consumption (p = 0.018), with higher BMI (> 30 kg/m2) which was associated with higher doses. However, BMI, age, and gender had no effect on knee ROM (p > 0.05).
ConclusionMultimodal protocols, including ACB in particular, improve pain control, reduce opioid consumption, and support faster rehabilitation.