Extract
The control of postoperative pain is a major concern of the orthopaedic
surgeon. Good pain control is not only more pleasant for the patient but can
also lead to earlier mobilization, faster rehabilitation, improved patient
satisfaction, and possibly earlier
discharge1-6.
Currently, an array of choices is available to orthopaedic surgeons for
postoperative pain management. These include narcotics (both oral and
intravenous), nerve blocks, pain pumps, epidural injections, aspirin,
nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, transdermal patches, and muscle
relaxants. Similarly, there is an array of orthopaedic procedures, each with
different pain management needs. A total joint replacement surgeon, for
example, would likely be dealing with different procedures and different
patient demographics than would a sports medicine specialist or a spine
surgeon.