Two HSS studies exploring pain control win President’s Choice Awards at Annual ASRA Meeting

(Press-News.org) Two studies at Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) focused on advancing pain management have received President’s Choice Awards from the American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine (ASRA). The awards recognize innovative research with significant potential to improve patient care, highlighting HSS’s leadership in developing safer, more effective approaches to pain control.

Study: Prevalence of cannabidiol use in patients undergoing sports medicine procedures on the knee, shoulder, or hip: A survey study

Researchers set out to determine the prevalence of cannabidiol (CBD) use in patients scheduled to undergo a sports medicine procedure at HSS. “We know that managing post-operative pain with opioids carries risks, including addiction. A promising alternative gaining attention is cannabidiol, a non-intoxicating derivative of the cannabis plant that is federally legal in the United States,” said Alexandra Sideris, PhD, director of the Pain Prevention Research Center at HSS. The study was presented at the 50th Annual ASRA Meeting in Orlando, Florida on May 1.

Reports from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health indicate that adults ages 18-35 are the most frequent self-reporters of cannabis use. “Our study aimed to shed light on the prevalence of self-medication with CBD in adults scheduled for elective sports medicine surgery on the knee, hip or shoulder, evaluating the effects in this patient population,” Dr. Sideris explained.

Researchers emailed anonymous surveys to 470 patients between September 2024 and December 2024. Out of 159 respondents, 39% of patients reported having tried CBD. Approximately one-third indicated that they used CBD on an as-needed basis, primarily for pain or to help them sleep. Most patients used gummies, and 44% purchased them from a dispensary. One-third of the respondents indicated that CBD was either moderately or very helpful.

“At HSS, ongoing data collection and analysis will further elucidate the perceived efficacy of cannabidiol and the potential for changes to prescription medication use with the incorporation of CBD,” Dr. Sideris noted.

With respect to the President’s Choice award, she commented, “It is an honor to have one of the top professional organizations in the field of regional anesthesia and pain medicine highlight the collaborative work of our department's Pain Prevention Research Center. The award reflects our dedication to innovations in patient care and underscores the greater scientific community's acknowledgements of our efforts.”

Study: Opioid Consumption During Hospitalization Across Manual, Computer- and Robotic-Assisted Total Hip Replacement 

In the second study to win a President’s Choice award, HSS researchers found that patients who had robotic-assisted total hip replacement (THR) surgery needed less opioid medication during hospitalization compared to patients who had computer-assisted or manual THR. The research was presented at the ASRA meeting on May 2.

“Effective pain management while limiting opioid consumption following total hip replacement is imperative, as it facilitates immediate postoperative function and leads to better long-term outcomes,” said Periklis Giannakis, MD, a research fellow at HSS. “While patient characteristics are important factors associated with pain control, surgical technique is also relevant. We aimed to determine if the way hip replacement was performed had an effect on the need for opioid medication after surgery.”  

Analyzing a multi-institutional database with almost 100,000 hip replacement cases, Dr. Giannakis and colleagues found that robotic-assisted hip replacement was associated with the lowest total opioid consumption during hospitalization. He noted that while the exact mechanism is unknown, reduced soft tissue trauma and a more precise robotic-assisted surgery may contribute to less acute inflammation and less pain immediately after the procedure.

Regarding his President’s Choice award, Dr. Giannakis commented, “Receiving President’s Choice recognition is a great honor for me and a testament to the collaboration and important research that we conduct at HSS.” He notes that future collaborative studies between the Department of Anesthesiology, the Pain Prevention Research Center and the Adult Reconstruction and Joint Replacement Service at HSS will seek to obtain more specific data, such as which robotic- and computer-assisted systems were used, with the ultimate goal of optimizing postoperative pain control.  

References:

Prevalence of cannabidiol use in patients undergoing sports medicine procedures on the knee, shoulder, or hip: A survey study

Authors: Sophia Madjarova BA, Arjun Khorana BS, William Chan MEng, Answorth Allen MD, Riley Williams MD, Benedict Nwachukwu MD, MBA, Alexandra Sideris PhD.

Opioid Consumption During Hospitalization Across Manual, Computer- and Robotic-Assisted Total Hip Arthroplasty 

Authors: Periklis Giannakis, MD, Juliet E. Rowe, MPH, Lisa Reisinger, MD, Alex Illescas, MPH, Alexandra Sideris, PhD, Crispiana Cozowicz, MD, Junying Wang, MPH, Sophia T. Zhuang, Jiabin Liu, MD, PHD, Lazaros Poultsides, MD, PHD, Robert G. Marx, MD, Alejandro Gonzalez Della Valle, MD,  Jashvant Poeran, MD, PhD, Stavros G. Memtsoudis, MD, PhD, MBA.

About HSS

HSS is the world’s leading academic medical center focused on musculoskeletal health. At its core is Hospital for Special Surgery, nationally ranked No. 1 in orthopedics (for the 15th consecutive year), No. 3 in rheumatology by U.S. News & World Report (2024-2025), and the best pediatric orthopedic hospital in NY, NJ and CT by U.S. News & World Report “Best Children’s Hospitals” list (2024-2025). In a survey of medical professionals in more than 20 countries by Newsweek, HSS is ranked world #1 in orthopedics for a fifth consecutive year (2025). Founded in 1863, the Hospital has the lowest readmission rates in the nation for orthopedics, and among the lowest infection and complication rates. HSS was the first in New York State to receive Magnet Recognition for Excellence in Nursing Service from the American Nurses Credentialing Center five consecutive times. An affiliate of Weill Cornell Medical College, HSS has a main campus in New York City and facilities in New Jersey, Connecticut and in the Long Island and Westchester County regions of New York State, as well as in Florida. In addition to patient care, HSS leads the field in research, innovation and education. The HSS Research Institute comprises 20 laboratories and 300 staff members focused on leading the advancement of musculoskeletal health through prevention of degeneration, tissue repair and tissue regeneration. In addition, more than 200 HSS clinical investigators are working to improve patient outcomes through better ways to prevent, diagnose, and treat orthopedic, rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases. The HSS Innovation Institute works to realize the potential of new drugs, therapeutics and devices. The HSS Education Institute is a trusted leader in advancing musculoskeletal knowledge and research for physicians, nurses, allied health professionals, academic trainees, and consumers in more than 165 countries. The institution is collaborating with medical centers and other organizations to advance the quality and value of musculoskeletal care and to make world-class HSS care more widely accessible nationally and internationally. www.hss.edu.

 

 

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