title: Analgesic effect of intra-articular morphine after arthroscopic meniscectomy.
abstract: A study was performed to assess the analgesic effect of intra-articular morphine 2 mg in 33 patients undergoing elective arthroscopic meniscectomy. Patients were randomly allocated to receive either 2 mg of morphine hydrochloride in 40 ml of normal saline intra-articularly and 1 ml of normal saline intramuscularly (n = 18), or 40 ml of normal saline intra-articularly and 2 mg of morphine hydrochloride intramuscularly (n = 15). The latter group was to act as a control for any potential systemic effects of the morphine. All patients received an identical general anaesthesia consisting of propofol, alfentanil, enflurane and nitrous oxide/oxygen. No significant differences between the groups were found in pain scores at rest or during active flexion of the knee at 1-6 h postoperatively, or during walking at 6 h postoperatively (p > 0.05). Six and two patients in the intra-articular and intramuscular morphine group, respectively, requested supplemental morphine given intravenously (p > 0.05). In conclusion, no significant differences in pain scores or in requirements for supplemental morphine were observed between patients receiving intra-articular versus intramuscular morphine 2 mg after elective arthroscopic meniscectomy and consequently no specific local analgesic effect of intra-articular morphine could be demonstrated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology, Silkeborg County Hospital, Denmark.
authors.forename: G W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Dierking
authors.forename: H T
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Ostergaard
authors.forename: C K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Dissing
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Kristensen
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Dahl
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001182:Arthroscopy; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007270:Injections, Intra-Articular; D007719:Knee Joint; D008297:Male; D008592:Menisci, Tibial / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009020:Morphine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D009020:Morphine