Significant Anxiolytic Effect and Enhanced Recovery Benefits of Perioperative Low-Dose Olanzapine in Patients with Anxiety Undergoing THA: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Major anxiety symptoms are commonly observed in patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty (THA); these symptoms exacerbate pain and compromise hip recovery. Olanzapine demonstrates clinically meaningful efficacy in reducing anxiety; thus, we investigated its anxiolytic effect and benefits for enhancing recovery in these high-risk patients.

METHODS: We prospectively enrolled 135 patients who were scheduled for primary THA at our institution between April 2024 and March 2025 and who scored at least 40 points on the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-State (STAI-S) before surgery. Patients randomly received oral olanzapine (2.5 mg), alprazolam (0.4 mg), or a placebo once nightly for 5 days beginning on the day of admission. The 3 groups (45 patients in the olanzapine group, 45 in the alprazolam group, and 44 in the placebo group after 1 patient was lost to follow-up) were compared postoperatively in terms of the STAI-S score, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), visual analog scale (VAS) pain score, opioid consumption, and functional recovery of the hip. Adverse events related to drugs and surgery were recorded.

RESULTS: Compared with placebo and alprazolam, olanzapine was associated with significantly lower STAI-S scores on postoperative days (PODs) 1 and 3, significantly lower resting VAS pain scores on PODs 1 to 3, and significantly lower incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting. The olanzapine group and the alprazolam group demonstrated significantly better sleep quality based on the PSQI on POD 3 compared with the placebo group. Moreover, the olanzapine group had lower opioid consumption on PODs 1 to 3 than the placebo group. Patients in the olanzapine group exhibited better Harris hip scores and Hip Disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Scores. The 3 groups did not significantly differ in terms of adverse events.

CONCLUSIONS: Perioperative low-dose olanzapine may be an effective option for reducing anxiety levels, sleep disorders, and postoperative nausea and vomiting, mitigating postoperative pain and enhancing hip recovery among patients with anxiety symptoms undergoing THA.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level I. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.