ON-Q infusion pump linked to increased hospital stay after total knee arthroplasty

Postoperative pain control modalities after total knee arthroplasty are highly variable among physicians. This variability has allowed researchers to review each modality and compare and contrast the benefits with the potential adverse effects of these medications on total knee replacement outcomes. The data in this study suggests that the use of Valium is correlated with increased pain medication consumption and decreased patient satisfaction. Data from this study also reveals that patients who underwent preoperative nerve blocks experienced decreased pain on postoperative day one and greater patient satisfaction. The most notable contribution of this study was the discovery of the adverse effects of the continuous pain pump, ON-Q. Patients treated with this modality had decreased ambulation on postoperative day one and on average remained in the hospital one extra day, a variable that significantly increases the cost of a total knee arthroplasty for the hospital, the surgeon and the patient. Even though this data is significant, further studies should be performed to enhance our knowledge of postoperative pain control for these patients.