The researchers identified 190,691 patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty at hospitals in the United States, 30 percent of whom received IV acetaminophen. The researchers used OFIRMEV, an injection developed by Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals, for the IV acetaminophen variable; both IV acetaminophen and oral acetaminophen were administered as part of a multimodal pain management strategy.
Here’s what the study found, in regards to IV acetaminophen:
1. Decreased length of stay and hospitalization costs.
2. Reduced opioid use and opioid-related complications.
3. Lower likelihood of 30-day readmissions or discharge to a skilled nursing facility.
These results were presented at the Annual National Forum on Quality Improvement in Health Care of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement in Orlando, which took place last week.
More articles on orthopedics:
AAOS to launch open-access online journal: 3 things to know
Patient eligibility for outpatient joint arthroplasty: 3 study insights
Is length of stay and postoperative readmission associated for TJR patients? 3 study insights
