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J Knee Surg 2023; 36(07): 785-791
DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-1743228
Original Article

Comparison of Acute-Phase Pain Intensity, Pain Trajectory, and the Number of Analgesics Administered between Total and Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasties

Tomohiro Oka 
1   Department of Rehabilitation, Anshin Hospital, Kobe, Japan
2   Department of Public Health, Kobe University Graduate School of Health Sciences, Kobe, Japan
,
Ryota Imai
3   School of Rehabilitation, Osaka Kawasaki Rehabilitation University, Osaka, Japan
,
Osamu Wada
1   Department of Rehabilitation, Anshin Hospital, Kobe, Japan
,
Kiyonori Mizuno
4   Department of Orthopedics, Anshin Hospital, Kobe, Japan
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Funding None.
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Abstract

We aimed to compare the variables of pain intensity, pain trajectory, and the number of analgesics administered during the acute phase between total and unicompartmental knee arthroplasties. This prospective cohort study recruited 445 patients who planned to undergo knee arthroplasty. Pain intensity was evaluated during hospitalization, and 1 month postoperatively using a numerical rating scale. Pain trajectory (slope and intercept) was calculated using pain intensity data from postoperative days 1 to 4. The number of analgesics administered for worsening pain was monitored during hospitalization. Multiple linear regression analysis with adjustment for potential confounders was conducted to investigate the impact of surgery type on pain variables. Data for 208 and 189 patients who had undergone total and unicompartmental knee arthroplasties, respectively, were included in this study. Pain intensity and pain trajectory were similar between the two surgeries. The number of analgesics administered on postoperative day 3 (p = 0.01) and day 4 (p = 0.03), as well as total number (p = 0.01), were lower for unicompartmental knee arthroplasty than for total knee arthroplasty. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the type of surgery affected the total number of analgesics administered (β = − 1.24, p < 0.01, 95% confidence interval: −1.80 to −0.62). This study suggests that pain characteristics observed during the acute phase differ between total and unicompartmental knee arthroplasties. Postoperative pain should be managed, and rehabilitation should be provided at similar levels after the second postoperative day in total and unicompartmental knee arthroplasty patients.

Keywords

total knee arthroplasty - unicompartmental knee arthroplasty - acute postoperative pain - number of analgesics administered

Availability of Data and Material

The datasets generated during and/or analyzed during the present study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.


Consent to Participate

Obtaining patients' informed consent for the present study was not mandatory according to the “Ethical Guidelines for Medical and Health Research Involving Human subjects” in Japan. However, all patients provided written informed consent prior to participation.


Authors' Contributions

T.O. and W.O. helped in research idea and study design; TO and KM acquired data; T.O., R.I., W.O., and KM were involved in data analysis and interpretation; T.O. was involved in statistical analysis; R.I., O.W., and K.M. were involved in supervision or mentorship. Each author contributed important intellectual content during article drafting or revision and accepts accountability for the overall work by ensuring that questions pertaining to the accuracy or integrity of any portion of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved.


Ethical Approval

The ethics committee approved all procedures performed in this study prior to study commencement (approval protocol number: no. 98; date of approval: December 20, 2019).




Publication History

Received: 03 May 2021

Accepted: 09 January 2022

Article published online:
18 February 2022

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