
Researchers conducted a controlled study assessing the effectiveness of a nonopioid pain regimen in controlling postoperative pain in orthopedic surgery patients following meniscus (knee) surgery.
All patients reported satisfaction with their pain levels without requiring emergency opioid analgesia.
Their findings were published in the Journal of Arthroscopic and Related Surgery in 2021. The results of the study showed that:
- Patients receiving a nonopioid regimen demonstrated noninferior visual analog scale scores compared with patients who received opioid pain medication
- No significant differences were found in preoperative or postoperative Patient-Reported
Outcomes Measurement and Information System Pain Interference Short Form scores
- A nonopioid pain protocol provided equivalent pain control and patient outcomes following knee surgery while having an equivalent side effect profile
In addition to the clinical efficacy of the nonopioid pain management protocol, all patients reported satisfaction with their pain levels without requiring emergency opioid analgesia.
Access the full study: Multimodal Nonopioid Pain Protocol Provides Equivalent Pain Versus Opioid Control Following Meniscus Surgery: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial