Pain Management and Accelerated Rehabilitation After Total Knee Arthroplasty

Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) has historically shown excellent long-term outcomes and success. However, postoperative pain management and early patient mobilization still remain a challenge. Recent innovations in total joint replacement surgery have led to advancements not only in less invasive surgical techniques but in postoperative rehabilitation protocols and multimodal analgesia strategies as well. Expedited protocols require a multidisciplinary approach, including modified surgical exposures, pain and nausea management, aggressive physical therapy, and patient education. Preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative techniques of accelerated protocols for total knee arthroplasty are discussed.

Keywords: total knee arthroplasty, rehabilitation, pain management