Posterior-stabilized total knee arthroplasty: a matched pair analysis of a classic and its evolutional design

Abstract Unicompartmental knee arthroplasty and total knee arthroplasty are well established treatment options for end-stage osteoarthritis, UKA still remains infrequently used if you take all knee arthroplasties into account. An important factor following knee arthroplasty is pain control in the perioperative experience, as high postoperative pain level is associated with persistent postsurgical pain. There is little literature which describes pain values and the need for pain medication following UKA and/or TKA. So far, no significant difference in pain has been found between UKA and TKA. The aim of the study was to evaluate differences in the postoperative course in unicompartmental knee arthroplasty vs. total knee arthroplasty regarding the need for pain medication and patient-reported outcomes including pain scores and side effects. We hypothesized that unicompartmental knee arthroplasty is superior to total knee arthroplasty in terms of postoperative pain values and the need of pain medication. In this project, we evaluated 2117 patients who had unicompartmental knee arthroplasty and 3798 who had total knee arthroplasty performed, from 2015 to 2018. A total of 4144 patients could be compared after performing the matched pair analysis. A professional team was used for data collection and short patient interviews to achieve high data quality on the first postoperative day. Parameters were compared after performing a 1:1 matched pair analysis, multicenter-wide in 14 orthopedic departments. Pain scores were significantly lower for the UKA group than those of the TKA group (p < 0.001 respectively for activity pain, minimum and maximum pain). In the recovery unit, there was less need for pain medication in patients with UKA (p = 0.004 for non-opioids). The opiate consumption was similarly lower for the UKA group, but not statistically significant (p = 0.15). In the ward, the UKA group needed less opioids (p < 0.001). Patient subjective parameters were significantly better for UKA. After implantation of unicompartmental knee arthroplasty, patients showed lower pain scores, a reduced need for pain medication and better patient subjective parameters in the early postoperative course in this study.

Download Full-text

Matched-Pair Analysis of Local Infiltration Analgesia in Total Knee Arthroplasty: Patient Satisfaction and Perioperative Pain Management in 846 Cases

The Journal of Knee Surgery ◽

10.1055/s-0038-1672156 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 32 (10) ◽

pp. 953-959 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Felix Greimel ◽

Günther Maderbacher ◽

Clemens Baier ◽

Timo Schwarz ◽

Florian Zeman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Patient Satisfaction ◽

Pain Management ◽

Knee Arthroplasty ◽

Postoperative Pain Management ◽

Matched Pair ◽

Local Infiltration Analgesia ◽

Replacement Surgery ◽

Matched Pair Analysis ◽

Total Knee ◽

Pair Analysis

AbstractIn the recent past, numerous studies evaluating local infiltration analgesia (LIA) with controversial results have been reported. Efforts have been made to improve patients' outcome regarding operation techniques and material, as well as pain management and anesthetic methods. In this study, postoperative pain management and patient satisfaction were evaluated in patients undergoing total knee replacement surgery with or without intraoperative LIA. Within the context of the “Quality Improvement in Postoperative Pain Management” (QUIPS) project, parameters were collected on the first postoperative day. All patients included in this study underwent primary knee replacement surgery with general anesthesia. Parameters were compared after performing a 1:1 matched-pair analysis within 14 orthopaedic departments. Pain levels and pain management satisfaction were measured using the numerous rating scales, and pain medication use was compared. From 2010 to 2015, 2,789 patients who underwent primary knee arthroplasty with general anesthesia were evaluated within the project, of whom a total of 846 patients could be compared after performing a matched-pair analysis. Pain scores were significantly better in the LIA group (p = 0.019 for activity pain, p = 0.043 for maximum pain, p < 0.001 for minimum pain), but pain management satisfaction was not superior (p = 0.083). Patients with LIA required less opioids in the recovery room (p = 0.048), while nonopioid medication did not differ significantly (p = 0.603). At the ward, 24 hours postoperatively, no significant difference in the use for nonopioids (p = 0.789) could be measured, whereas patients in the LIA group received significantly more opioids (p < 0.001). Although LIA achieved improvement in pain score outcome, and a comparable patient satisfaction level in the immediate postoperative course, the use of LIA in knee arthroplasty, controversially discussed in the current literature, was not able to reduce the need for opioid pain medication in this study.

Download Full-text