Orthopedic surgeons have relied heavily on opiates after total hip replacement (THR) despite no clear evidence of benefit and a rapidly growing abuse epidemic. Multimodal analgesia may reduce or even obviate the need for opiates after elective surgery. In a cluster-randomized, crossover trial, 235 patients undergoing THR were assigned to receive multimodal analgesia with minimal opiates (Group A-10 tablets), multimodal analgesia with a full opiate supply (Group B-60 tablets), or a traditional opiate regimen without multimodal analgesia (Group C-60 tablets). The multimodal regimen comprised scheduled-dose acetaminophen, meloxicam, and gabapentin. Primary outcomes were daily pain and opiate utilization for the first 30-days. Secondary outcomes included assessments of satisfaction, sleep-quality, opiate-related symptoms, hip function, and adverse events.Background
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