“Knowing there’s a good non-opioid option reduces my anxiety [about my TKA surgery].”

For patients undergoing Total Knee Replacement (TKR) surgery (also referred to as Total Knee Arthroplasty, or TKA), pain is a significant concern. In a recent Vitalis survey of 41 TKA patients scheduled for surgery, 78% reported being moderately to extremely concerned about post-operative pain.

That fear doesn’t just affect recovery; it can affect the decision to undergo surgery in the first place. As one patient put it, the prospect of pain “makes me hesitate even though I know I need the surgery.” Concern about pain may cause patients to delay the care they need, prolonging suffering and limiting mobility.

Patients would like better options

When asked about their openness to alternatives, patients showed remarkable interest in non-opioid solutions:

• 80% of patients who were highly concerned about pain said they would be somewhat to very likely to consider a new non-opioid option if recommended by their surgeon.

This demonstrates the critical role surgeons play in introducing safer, innovative therapies that patients may not otherwise consider.

Key takeaways

The survey results are clear:

• Patients are deeply concerned about post-surgical pain.
• They want non-opioid alternatives.
• Surgeons play a critical role in recommending and guiding patients toward safer recovery options.

At Vitalis, we believe these findings reinforce the urgency of making oral ketamine available as a first-line, at-home recovery tool. Doing so can reduce opioid exposure, improve patient outcomes, and give more people the confidence to undergo life-changing surgeries like TKA.