3. Results
Pain, pain, knee arthroplasty, hallucinations, thirty-four, NRS
DRUG INTOLERANCE
One hundred thirty-four patients received the allocated intervention, of which 132 patients had valid activity-monitoring data for the entire period. Patient flow through the study is shown in Figure CONSORT 2010 flow diagram showing the patient flow through the study.Daily time mobilized, meaning the time spent stepping and standing, was 0.6 hours longer in the placebo group compared to the tapentadol ER group (Mean time mobilized and sitting/lying (hours) the first 6 days after TKA surgery.CI = confidence interval, CR = controlled-release, ER = extended-release, TKA = total knee arthroplasty.The tapentadol ER group had a higher daily step count than the placebo and oxycodone CR groups (Fig. Step count days 1 to 6 postoperatively for the tapentadol extended-release (ER) group, the oxycodone controlled-release (CR) group, and the non-opioid placebo group.For all patients in the study together, the mean time mobilized per day was 2.93 hours which increased by 0.13 hours per day from day 1 to day 6 (Proportion of time in walking, standing, and lying position during the first 6 postoperative days for the tapentadol extended-release (ER) group, the oxycodone controlled-release (CR) group, and the non-opioid placebo group.Pooling the data for all patients in the study for all 6 days, we found that the number of steps decreased with increasing pain until the pain was reported as severe (NRS 7 or more), after which the number of steps increased (Fig. Pooled data showing number of steps for all groups from days 1 to 6 postoperatively and the association with pain mobilized on the NRS score. Pain on mobilization measured by NRS. NRS = numeric rating scale.Regarding drug intolerance, 1 patient in the placebo group was readmitted to the hospital 1 day after discharge due to hallucinations, probably because of too high an intake of oxycodone IR (<100 mg a day). This patient was excluded from the study.