Music Therapy Versus Control for Total Knee Arthroplasty

For millennia, people have listened to and enjoyed music for entertainment, as a distraction from daily troubles, and as a means to relax and relieve stress. It is no real surprise that the relaxing and stress-relieving effects of music have been shown in patients having surgery. For patients having surgery with spinal anesthesia, music therapy during the operation decreases sedation requirements, anxiety and may improve patient satisfaction. Music therapy during surgery may also lead to a decreased stress response, as evidenced by more stable cortisol levels. Studies done previously have included patients undergoing various surgical procedures, however no studies have been done specifically for patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty. Because total knee arthroplasty is a common procedure usually done under spinal anesthesia at our institution, we would like to study the effects music therapy could have on our patient population.