Modern Analgesic Techniques for Hip and Knee Arthroplasty: An Approach to Evidence-Based Medicine

Abstract

In major orthopedic surgery, hip and knee arthroplasty plays an important role. Statistics from past years show us a decrease in the age of patients undergoing this type of surgery.

Effective postoperative pain management should allow rapid patient mobilization with the possibility of discharge even in less than two days. Therefore there is also a growing tendency to shift hip and knee arthroplasty from in-patient to outpatient surgery. The multidisciplinary approach of the fast-track program also depends on the organizational set-up facilities of each institution.

Our update aims to review the main models of classical and modern pharmacological or non-pharmacological techniques and analgesics used today in the postoperative period. Their comparative analysis demonstrates the benefits and side effects of each and guides us on how to apply for evidence-based medicine in our daily practice.