Dronabinol in Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA)

The objective of this study is to examine the possible therapeutic advantages of administering perioperative dronabinol to individuals who are undergoing unilateral total knee arthroplasty (TKA). With the utilization of contemporary regional anesthetic procedures and peripheral nerve blocks, pain management is typically effective in the immediate aftermath of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) within the first day after surgery. Rebound pain is shown to occur on the second day following postoperative discharge (POD2), once the analgesic blocks administered during the procedure have ceased to be effective. Previous studies have suggested that dronabinol, a synthetic form of THC, may have potential analgesic properties. Our goal is to find out if giving dronabinol before surgery could lower the number of opioids that people need on postoperative day 2 (POD2) in people who are having total knee arthroplasty (TKA). This research could provide valuable insights into alternative pain management strategies for TKA patients, potentially minimizing opioid-related side effects and improving overall patient outcomes.