Fifty-five patients undergoing primary total hip arthroplasty were randomized to receive a periarticular multidrug injection (PMDI, n=28) or an epidural catheter (n=27) for postoperative pain control. The primary outcomes of interest were pain scores, narcotic consumption, function, inflammatory markers and complications. There were no differences in pain scores or narcotic consumption in the postoperative period between groups. The PMDI group had greater range of motion on postoperative day 3 and were more successful in performing a straight leg raise on postoperative day 1. However, no differences in range of motion in postoperative days 1 or 2 were found. The PMDI group was found to have significantly lower inflammatory markers in the immediate postoperative period when compared to the epidural catheter group.