2025 COA Annual Meeting: Opioid Reduction and Enhanced Recovery in Orthopedic Surgeries: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial in Knee Arthroplasty

Ninety-eight patients undergoing unilateral knee arthroplasty were randomized to receive either standard care (n=47) or a multicomponent intervention for opioid-free pain control (OFPC) (n=51). The primary outcome of interest was the rate of OFPC at eight weeks. Secondary outcomes included pain levels, patient satisfaction, recruitment and adherence rates, and feasibility metrics such as follow-up and retention. Outcomes were assessed at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. Overall, the results of the study revealed that 67% of patients in the intervention group achieved OFPC at eight weeks, with high adherence to most components of the intervention and follow-up exceeding 90% at 12 months. These findings suggest that a personalized, multicomponent pain management program is feasible and holds promise for improving pain outcomes while reducing opioid use after knee arthroplasty.