Course of pain after operative orthopedic interventions: Characterization exemplified by total knee arthroplasty

Background: The number of cases of orthopedic surgery is still increasing and postoperative pain management is of great importance for the patients. Therefore, in this study factors influencing the pain and the developement of pain in general in the first 7 days after total knee arthroplasty were examined. Material and methods: A total of 28 patients were included in this prospectively designed trial and underwent total knee arthroplasty with psoas compartment and sciatic nerve regional anesthesia and additionally propofol sedation. Postoperative pain scores were documented using a numerical rating scale (NRS) and anthropometric data and perioperative parameters were correlated with the postoperative pain score. Results: Evaluation of the pain values per interval showed that the maximum and the mean postoperative pain levels decreased up to day 4 after surgery and then increased. No significant effects of the analyzed parameters age, body mass index (BMI), duration of surgery and catheter indwelling time could be found. Female patients had significantly more pain than males in this collective. Conclusion: The results show that there were no factors which have a significant influence on the degree of postoperative pain. Female patients suffered from more pain than males. There was an increase in pain after postoperative day 4 which might be the effect of more extensive mobilization and reduced effects of regional anesthesia. It is important that pain is treated in the early postoperative period.