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J Knee Surg 2008; 21(4): 275-278
DOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1247831
Original Article

© 2008 Thieme Medical Publishers

Intraoperative Music Reduces Perceived Pain After Total Knee Arthroplasty – A Blinded, Prospective, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial

Xavier C. Simcock, Richard S. Yoon, Peter Chalmers, Jeffrey A. Geller, Howard A. Kiernan, William Macaulay
  • The Center for Hip and Knee Replacement, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, New York Presbyterian Hospital at Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY
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Publication History

Publication Date:
14 January 2010 (online)

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ABSTRACT

Patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA) often experience a difficult recovery due to severe postoperative pain. Using a multimodal pain management protocol, a blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of patient-selected music on reducing perceived pain. Thirty patients undergoing primary unilateral TKA were enrolled and randomized into the music group (15 patients) or the control group (15 patients). Postoperative pain scores, assessed with the visual analog scale, indicated the music group experienced less pain at 3 and 24 hours postoperatively than did the nonmusic group (at 3 hours: 1.47±1.39 versus 3.87±3.44, P = .01; at 24 hours: 2.41±1.67 versus 4.03±2.89, P = .04). Intraoperative music provides an inexpensive nonpharmacological option to further reduce postoperative pain.