What is a multimodal approach to postoperative analgesia for orthopedic surgery?

• A. Opioids only
• B. Acetaminophen, NSAIDs, regional anesthesia, gabapentinoids, and opioids as needed to minimize opioid use
• C. Acetaminophen alone
• D. NSAIDs only

Answer: (B)

Multimodal analgesia combines several different types of pain relief that work through separate mechanisms to control pain while reducing the amount of opioids needed. For orthopedic surgery, this means using acetaminophen and NSAIDs for baseline relief and inflammation control, regional anesthesia or nerve blocks to interrupt pain signals from the surgical site, gabapentinoids to reduce nerve-related pain, and opioids only as needed to treat any remaining pain. This approach provides stronger overall pain control, supports earlier movement after surgery, and lowers the risk of opioid-related side effects and potential dependence. Relying on a single modality, like opioids alone or acetaminophen or NSAIDs alone, tends to require higher opioid doses or offer less effective pain relief.