Study Finds Standardized Pain Control Regimen, Education after Knee Surgery Cuts Opioid Use, Increases Mobility

​For patients who have had a total knee arthroscopy, a multimodal analgesia regimen during perioperative care, along with educational videos, can reduce opioid use, improve mobility significantly, and lead to shorter hospital stays, according to a retrospective chart review published in the April 2018 issue of the Journal of PeriAnesthesia Nursing. Patients also reported having similar or significantly lower levels of pain than those not on the multimodal regimen, researchers said. Total knee arthroplasty is a common elective procedure, with more than 700,000 performed in the United States in 2013. While the procedure itself can relieve pain, one-third of patients report moderate to severe pain after the procedure.