Multimodal analgesia in perioperative settings: Improvement perspectives

The aim of this study was to evaluate the intensity of pain in orthopaedic hospital patients and to identify unsatisfactory pain management and possibilities for improvements in the future. Data collection included Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) scores, which characterised the intensity of pain. Maximum pain on the day of surgery, mean pain on the day of surgery (D0), and mean pain on first (D1) and second (D2) postoperative days were documented. The pain of an intensity from 0 to 3 was defined as mild pain, 4 to 6 as moderate pain, and 6 to 10 as severe pain. Maximum severe pain intensity on the day of surgery was experienced by 20.5% of patients, moderate by 45.8%, and mild by 33.6%. The reported mean pain intensity according to type of surgery was as follows: hip replacement- 2.79 ± 1.6 (D0), 2.09 ± 1.4 (D1), and 1.35 ± 1.2 (D2); knee replacement - 3.39 ± 1.7 (D0), 2.98 ± (D1), 1.82 ± 1.36, and (D2); upper extremity surgery - 3.59 ± 1.9 (D0), 3.4 ± 1.7 (D1), and 2.1 ± 1.5 (D2); lower extremity surgery - 4.1 ± 2.1 (D0), 3.49 ± 1.42 (D1), and 2.58 ± 1.4 (D2); spine surgery - 3.31 ± 1.58 (D0), 2.88 ± 1.96 (D1), and 1.83 ± 1.74 (D2). Patients in the lower extremity group experienced unacceptable mean pain. The maximum pain intensity on day of surgery was experienced by patients after single-shot plexus brachialis block anaesthesia (5.24 ± 2.4). Well-designed multimodal analgesia with special attention to single shot techniques may improve pain management and functional outcomes after orthopaedic surgery.