Intra-articular tenoxicam relieves post-arthroscopy pain.
BACKGROUND
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs have been documented to be effective in the treatment of postoperative pain. The aim of this study was to evaluate the analgesic effect of local intra-articular injection of tenoxicam compared with intravenous injection on postoperative pain after arthroscopy.


METHODS
After day-case arthroscopy, 60 patients were randomized to receive either tenoxicam 20 mg in 20 ml of normal saline intra-articularly and 2 ml of normal saline i.v., or 20 ml of normal saline intra-articularly and 2 ml tenoxicam 20 mg i.v. Postoperative pain was assessed using a visual analogue scale and measuring analgesic requirements.


RESULTS
Pain scores were significantly lower in the intra-articular group at rest and during active flexion of the knee at 1, 2 and 4 hours postoperatively and during walking at 6 hours postoperatively (P < 0.05). Significantly more patients in the intravenous group required supplemental opioid analgesia within the first 4 hours postoperatively (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Intra-articular tenoxicam 20 mg provided better analgesia and decreased the requirements for postoperative analgesic compared with i.v. tenoxicam 20 mg.
Elhakim
M
M
Department of Anaesthesia, Faculty of Medicine, Ain-Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.
Fathy
A
A
Elkott
M
M
Said
M M
MM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001182:Arthroscopy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010894:Piroxicam / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D010894:Piroxicam; C032801:tenoxicam