The effect of the addition of lornoxicam (xefocam) intrarticularly on the WOMAC Scale in patients undergoing arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

UNLABELLED

Effective pain relief is important after diagnostic and therapeutic arthroscopic knee surgery to permit early discharge and improve comfort and mobility at home. We compared the intraarticular analgesic effects of ropivacaine and morphine with or without Xefocam and the need for rescue i.v. morphine at rest and during movement in patients undergoing anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction under spinal anesthesia. Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) is associated with moderate to severe postoperative pain.

PATIENTS AND METHOD

Forty five patients undergoing anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) under spinal anesthesia were enrolled in this study. Patients were divided into three equal groups (15 each); the C group received saline. The RM group received 0.25% ropivacaine and morphine 0.2 mg/mL; the RMX group received 0.25% ropivacaine, morphine 0.2 mg/mL and Xefocam 0.8 mg/mL postoperatively they received intraarticular patient-controlled analgesia. The study drug was given in a volume of 10-mL bolus and a 60-min lockout interval. If needed, rescue morphine 2 mg was self-administered i.v. with 10-min lockout intervals. Pain scores and patient satisfaction were assessed at rest and during movement. There were significant differences among the groups in pain scores and patient satisfaction and in the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) Classification. Daily morphine consumption was significantly smaller in the RMX group (7 +/- 6 mg) compared with the RM group (23 +/- 20 mg; P = 0.002) and in both groups compared with control (46 +/- 21 mg; P < 0.001). We conclude that intraarticular patient-controlled regional analgesia provides effective pain relief after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. The combination of intraarticular ropivacaine, morphine, and xefocam was superior to control or to a combination of ropivacaine and morphine.