ABSTRACT
Despite the success of total hip arthroplasty (THA), postoperative pain management remains a concern. Although the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) intravenous (IV) diclofenac is a promising addition, its impact on THA outcomes has not been investigated. This study evaluates the effects of adjunctive IV diclofenac on: 1) postoperative pain intensity; 2) opioid consumption; 3) discharge destination; 4) length of stay; and 5) patient satisfaction in primary THA patients. A retrospective study was performed for patients who underwent primary THA by a single surgeon between May 1 and September 31, 2017. Patients of the study group (n=25) were treated postoperatively with IV diclofenac and the standard pain control regimen while the control group (n=88) did not receive diclofenac. Patients receiving adjunctive IV diclofenac were more likely to be discharged home than to inpatient facilities (O.R. 4.02; p=0.049). Patient satisfaction with respect to how well and how often pain was controlled (p= 0.0436 and p=0.0217, respectively) was significantly greater in the IV diclofenac group. Patients who received IV diclofenac had lower opioid consumption on postoperative days one and two (-67.2 and -129.0mg, respectively; p=0.001 for both). The growth of THA as an outpatient procedure has intensified the urgency of improving postoperative pain management. This study demonstrates that THA patients receiving adjunctive IV diclofenac were more likely to be discharged home, had reduced opioid consumption, and experienced greater satisfaction. To further investigate the optimal regimen, future studies comprising a larger cohort and comparing IV diclofenac to other NSAIDs are warranted.
