Use of Nanotechnology as an Alternative to Opioids for Post-operative Pain Management Following TKA

Jacques E Chelly; Anton Plakseychuk; Nicholas Schott

doi:10.13107/jocr.2023.v13.i09.3892

Use of Nanotechnology as an Alternative to Opioids for Post-operative Pain Management Following TKA

J Orthop Case Rep. 2023 Sep;13(9):99-102. doi: 10.13107/jocr.2023.v13.i09.3892.

Authors

Jacques E Chelly¹, Anton Plakseychuk², Nicholas Schott¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States.
² Department of Orthopedics, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States.

Abstract

Introduction: In response to the current opioid crisis, there is a great interest to develop non-pharmacologic approaches to post-operative pain management for patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

Case report: We report a case of a patient whose post-operative pain following TKA was managed using the newly designed NeuroCuple™ device, a patch based on the use of nanotechnology. The NeuroCuple™ device was placed above the knee by the patient at home. The use of the NeuroCuple™ device allowed the patient completely avoid the use of any opioids at home.

Conclusion: Our report suggests that the use of the NeuroCuple™ device may represent an interesting alternative to opioids for the peri-operative management of pain following a primary, unilateral TKA.

Keywords: Primary knee arthroplasty; nanotechnology; peri-operative pain management.

Publication types

Case Reports