Conference Coverage

Suzetrigine After TKA Linked to Lower Opioid Use, Less Pain and More Mobility

Edited by:
Brian McCurdy

Key Highlights

  • Median post-discharge morphine milligram equivalents were 6.3 with suzetrigine versus 150 without it.
  • Median pain scores were lower with suzetrigine, at 3.5 versus 5.
  • Independent ambulation at 4 weeks was more frequent in the suzetrigine group.

A retrospective study presented at the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons Annual Meeting (AAHKS) 2026 in Dallas found that adding suzetrigine to a multimodal pain pathway was associated with reduced opioid consumption, lower postoperative pain scores, and better early mobility after primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA). No suzetrigine-related complications were reported.

Investigators evaluated suzetrigine as an addition to postoperative pain management in patients undergoing TKA. The study compared a standard multimodal regimen without suzetrigine with a multimodal regimen incorporating the nonopioid analgesic, examining opioid use alongside pain, mobility, and complications.

The analysis included 255 patients undergoing primary TKA between April 2025 and April 2026. Of these, 184 received multimodal treatment without suzetrigine, and 71 received multimodal treatment plus suzetrigine. Supplemental opioids prescribed when needed included tramadol, oxycodone, and hydrocodone. The groups were comparable in age, sex, body mass index, and comorbidities.

Study Findings

Complete opioid avoidance was reported in 10 of 71 patients receiving suzetrigine versus 5 of 184 patients receiving the standard regimen (reported P < .001). The abstract lists the suzetrigine proportion as 15.1%, although the stated count and denominator yield 14.1%; the comparator proportion was 2.7%. Median total postdischarge morphine milligram equivalents were significantly lower with suzetrigine, at 6.3 versus 150 (P = .04). Median pain scores were also lower, at 3.5 versus 5.0 (P < .001).

At 4 weeks, 87.7% of patients in the suzetrigine group ambulated independently, compared with 74.6% in the standard-regimen group (P = .03). Manipulation under anesthesia occurred in 1.4% versus 3.3%, respectively, but this difference was not statistically significant (P = .68). Emergency department visits for constipation occurred in 0% versus 1.6%, also without a statistically significant difference (P = .60). Investigators reported no suzetrigine-related complications.

Clinical Implications

According to the authors, suzetrigine use in this TKA cohort was associated with a greater likelihood of avoiding opioids entirely, lower overall opioid consumption, less postoperative pain, and improved early mobility. They characterized complication risk as similarly low between groups and reported no apparent side effects.

Expert Commentary

“In patients undergoing TKA, suzetrigine was associated with a higher chance of total opioid avoidance, lower overall opioid consumption, lower post-operative pain, and improved early mobility, with a similarly low complication risk and without apparent side effects,” the researchers concluded.

Reference

Alnaqib A, Dadpey B, Sandhu E, et al. Addition of suzetrigine to a multimodal pain pathway reduces opioid use in total knee arthroplasty. Paper #15. Abstract presented at the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons Annual Meeting, November 5–8, 2026, Dallas, TX.