Effectiveness of drug-free interventions to reduce pain, opioids after total knee

Editor's Note

In this meta-analysis of the effectiveness of nonpharmacological interventions for pain after total knee arthroplasty, electrotherapy and acupuncture were associated with reduced and delayed opioid consumption, but there was low or very low certainty that they improved pain.

Continuous passive motion and preoperative exercise did not improve pain or reduce opioid consumption (low or very low certainty). Cryotherapy reduced opioid consumption but did not improve pain (very low certainty).

The meta-analysis included 2,391 patients in 39 randomized trials.

This systematic review and meta-analysis outlines the evidence for nonpharmacological interventions for postoperative pain management after total knee arthroplasty.