Anesthesia and Analgesia Methods in Primary Total Hip Arthroplasty and Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty—A Survey of Nordic Anesthesiologists
Authors' conclusion
There is general agreement in the Nordic countries on preoperative medication, anesthesia techniques, and multimodal pain management, though variability exists in the use of peripheral nerve blocks and LIA. Day-case TJAs are common, especially in Denmark. Pain, motor weakness, and PONV are the main barriers to same-day discharge.
Study context
- Population
- Anesthesiologists of Nordic orthopedic units performing >100 arthroplasties/year, on practice for primary total hip (THA) and knee (TKA) arthroplasty
- Participants
- 298 survey responses
- Outcome
- Current anesthesia and analgesia practices for primary THA and TKA
Methodological detailsonline survey
- Online survey
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Anesthesia and analgesia practices
- Following a standard operation procedure
- 94.3%
- Preoperative medication, THA
- 65.1%
- Preoperative medication, TKA
- 63.1%
- Intraoperative corticosteroids, THA
- 79.2%
- Intraoperative corticosteroids, TKA
- 81.7%
- Spinal anesthesia, THA
- 95.6%
- Spinal anesthesia, TKA
- 92.3%
- Bupivacaine preferred for spinal, THA
- 83.9%
- Bupivacaine preferred for spinal, TKA
- 88.4%
- Local infiltration analgesia, THA
- 37.6%
- Local infiltration analgesia, TKA
- 64.4%
- Peripheral nerve blocks, THA
- 8.1%
- Peripheral nerve blocks, TKA
- 40.9%
- Postoperative opioids
- 96.0%
- Postoperative paracetamol
- 93.0%
- Postoperative NSAIDs incl. COX-2 inhibitors
- 81.9%
- Postoperative gabapentinoids
- 8.4%
- Antiemetics used
- 43.7%
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Day-case THA and TKA
- Respondents (from 61 hospitals) reporting day-case primary THA and TKA
- 49.7%
- Patients having day surgery
- less than 25%
Reasons for delayed discharge
- Intense pain, motor weakness and postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV)
Original publication
Anesthesia and Analgesia Methods in Primary Total Hip Arthroplasty and Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty—A Survey of Nordic Anesthesiologists. Acta Anaesthesiol Scand. Published 17 July 2025. doi:10.
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