InMusiK: Effect of Intraoperative Music on Perceived Pain after Total Knee Replacement

TKA recovery can be complicated by severe post operative pain. Efforts to maximally reduce postoperative pain result in greater patient satisfaction, decreased recovery time, greater range of motion, and shorter length of stay. Within the last decade an emphasis has been placed on increasing patient satisfaction by carefully managing post operative pain through pharmacological means. At the same time non-pharmacological measures have not been extensively explored. However, the American public actively explores holistic means for pain reduction with 36 percent of American adults have used some sort of holistic therapy within the last 12 months. In addition, patients often fear using pharmacologic measures to reduce postoperative pain because of potential side effects. Therefore, we believe patients are eager to incorporate holistic measures into there patient care.

Through the InMusiK Project, we hope to simply reduce perceived pain for our patients following a total knee replacement. Should the statistical analyses prove that music has even a slight benefit in reducing pain, a little music can go a long way in helping patients have a better experience immediately after their operation.