Patients who used a smartphone app reduced their opioid use after total knee replacement surgery, according to a study presented at Euroanaesthesia in Vienna, Austria, June 1-3.
Business Standard published a recap of the findings:
1. The average Visual Analogue Scale pain score was 23 out of 100, 100 representing the most pain.
2. Average opiate use was less than half of one 5-milligram oxycodone tablet daily.
3. Regular use of the app — which allows patients to input their pain level and offers tailored treatment suggestions — reduced opioid use and improved pain control.
4. Pain during activity was reduced four times faster for regular app users. Regular users also experienced faster reduction of nighttime pain, less opiate use and less gabapentin use compared to control patients.