The Importance of Optimizing Acute Pain in the Orthopedic Trauma Patient

Jerry Jones Jr; Warren Southerland; Blas Catalani

doi:10.1016/j.ocl.2017.06.003

The Importance of Optimizing Acute Pain in the Orthopedic Trauma Patient

Orthop Clin North Am. 2017 Oct;48(4):445-465. doi: 10.1016/j.ocl.2017.06.003.

Authors

Jerry Jones Jr¹, Warren Southerland², Blas Catalani²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Anesthesiology, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, 877 Jefferson Avenue, Chandler Building, Suite 600, Memphis, TN 38103, USA. Electronic address: jjones8@uthsc.edu.
² Department of Anesthesiology, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, 877 Jefferson Avenue, Chandler Building, Suite 600, Memphis, TN 38103, USA.

PMID: 28870305
DOI: 10.1016/j.ocl.2017.06.003

Abstract

Postoperative pain control is a highly studied topic because of its significant effect on costs, hospital course, and, most importantly, patient satisfaction. Opioid use has been the "status quo" of postoperative pain management but prolongs hospital stays and increases complications. Optimizing acute pain management in patients with orthopedic trauma is important and can translate into significant positive physiologic and financial outcomes. Although multiple viable examples of optimizing acute pain management in the literature demonstrate outcome improvements, implementation has not been widespread. Significant outcome success will depend more on systemwide implementation than a specific regimen for postoperative pain control.

Keywords: Acute pain; Orthopedic trauma patient; Postoperative pain; Regional anesthesia.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Acute Pain / diagnosis
Acute Pain / etiology
Acute Pain / therapy*
Analgesics / therapeutic use*
Humans
Nerve Block / methods*
Pain Management / methods*
Pain Measurement
Patient Satisfaction
Wounds and Injuries / complications*

Substances

Analgesics