The results of a recent study at LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine found that freezing nerves through cryoneurolysis before knee replacement surgery led to better outcomes, reports Medical News Today. In the research led by Vinod Dasa, MD, Associate Professor of Clinical Orthopaedics, 100 total knee replacement patients were analyzed. 50 patients were placed into a treatment group and received the “nerve freezing” five days prior to replacement surgery, and 50 patients in a control group did not receive cryoneurolysis.
"Patients in the treatment group had significantly shorter hospital stays, were prescribed significantly fewer opioids during the first 12 weeks post-operatively and had significantly fewer knee symptoms," said Dr. Dasa.
What may explain the improved results? Local control of pain was better, and there was a reduced need for opioids and nerve blocks that may impair motor function.
The results could have positive implications for reducing post-op lengths of stay in the hospital. For more information, read the full article and study from Medical News Today.
"Patients in the treatment group had significantly shorter hospital stays, were prescribed significantly fewer opioids during the first 12 weeks post-operatively and had significantly fewer knee symptoms," said Dr. Dasa.
What may explain the improved results? Local control of pain was better, and there was a reduced need for opioids and nerve blocks that may impair motor function.
The results could have positive implications for reducing post-op lengths of stay in the hospital. For more information, read the full article and study from Medical News Today.
