title: Effectiveness of multimodal pain management protocol in total knee arthroplasty patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Numerous methods for postoperative pain management after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) are reported. Multimodal pain management approaches, including peripheral nerve blocks and systemic analgesia, have been shown to decrease patient pain, increase patient satisfaction with pain control, decrease length of stay (LOS), and improve patient outcomes.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare patient outcomes (pain scores, LOS, postoperative nausea and vomiting, and movement) between 66 TKA patients of a single orthopaedic surgeon in 2010 who received a multimodal approach to 45 historical (control) patients in 2009 who did not receive a multimodal pain management protocol.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients who were treated with the multimodal pain protocol had significantly lower pain scores in the immediate postoperative period, less postoperative nausea and vomiting day of surgery, and a decrease in LOS by half a day despite increased buckling and increased level of assistance with ambulation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The multimodal pain approach improved patient outcomes in TKA patients.
authors.affiliation: Aurora Health Care St. Luke's Medical Center, Milwaukee, WI, USA.
authors.forename: Cynthia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gunta
authors.forename: Kimberly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bobay
mesh_terms: D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000628:therapy*