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Clinical Trial
. 2016 Dec 5:6:38218.
doi: 10.1038/srep38218.

Implementing a benchmarking and feedback concept decreases postoperative pain after total knee arthroplasty: A prospective study including 256 patients

A Benditz  1 , J Drescher  2 , F Greimel  1 , F Zeman  3 , J Grifka  1 , W Meißner  4 , F Völlner  1
Affiliations
Clinical Trial

Implementing a benchmarking and feedback concept decreases postoperative pain after total knee arthroplasty: A prospective study including 256 patients

A Benditz et al. Sci Rep. .

Abstract

Perioperative pain reduction, particularly during the first two days, is highly important for patients after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Problems are not only caused by medical issues but by organization and hospital structure. The present study shows how the quality of pain management can be increased by implementing a standardized pain concept and simple, consistent benchmarking. All patients included into the study had undergone total knee arthroplasty. Outcome parameters were analyzed by means of a questionnaire on the first postoperative day. A multidisciplinary team implemented a regular procedure of data analyzes and external benchmarking by participating in a nationwide quality improvement project. At the beginning of the study, our hospital ranked 16th in terms of activity-related pain and 9th in patient satisfaction among 47 anonymized hospitals participating in the benchmarking project. At the end of the study, we had improved to 1st activity-related pain and to 2nd in patient satisfaction. Although benchmarking started and finished with the same standardized pain management concept, results were initially pure. Beside pharmacological treatment, interdisciplinary teamwork and benchmarking with direct feedback mechanisms are also very important for decreasing postoperative pain and for increasing patient satisfaction after TKA.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Timeline of mean NRS maximum, minimum and activity-related pain.
Figure 2
Figure 2. Timeline of mean NRS patient satisfaction.
Figure 3
Figure 3
(a,b) Comparison of mean NRS activity-related pain among 47 anonymized hospitals in 2014 (a) and 2015 (b). The red bar shows our hospital.
Figure 4
Figure 4
(a,b) Comparison of mean NRS patient satisfaction among 47 anonymized hospitals in 2014 (a) and 2015 (b). The red bar shows our hospital.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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