A prospective randomized controlled trial on the effect of music therapy intervention on pain and anxiety in adult patients undergoing total shoulder arthroplasty.

Study Summary

108 patients undergoing elective anatomic or reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) were randomized to receive live music therapy, recorded music therapy, or standard care without music therapy (control). The primary outcomes of interest were changes in pain and anxiety scores from baseline to post-music therapy intervention. Secondary outcomes of interest included differences between live and recorded music therapy, postoperative narcotic analgesic requirements, and patient-reported experience with music therapy. Outcomes were assessed across six perioperative phases, including the preoperative visit, presurgery visit, postanesthesia care unit visit, 12 to 24 hour postoperative inpatient visit, 2 week postoperative visit, and 6 month postoperative visit. Overall, the results of the study revealed that both live and recorded music therapy significantly reduced pain and anxiety compared with standard care, with no meaningful difference between live and recorded delivery. These findings suggest that music therapy may be a useful nonpharmacologic treatment for perioperative pain and anxiety management in TSA.