title: Postoperative analgesia after arthroscopic knee surgery: a randomized, prospective, double-blind study of intravenous regional analgesia versus intra-articular analgesia.
abstract: The aim of this study was to determine the quality of postoperative analgesia in patients undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery using preoperative intravenous regional analgesia. After initial consultation with a statistician, we allocated 36 patients randomly and double-blind to 1 of 3 groups. Group A received intravenous regional analgesia preoperatively, group B received standard postperative intra-articular analgesia, and group C received saline and acted as the placebo. Our results showed no statistically significant difference in pain levels between the groups. However, there was a significantly larger amount of morphine administered by patient-controlled pumps in the placebo group when compared with the 2 treatment groups. There was no such difference between the 2 treatment groups. We concluded that preoperative regional analgesia in this setting is as good as but no better than intra-articular analgesia and that neither technique has any advantages over diclofenac plus patient-controlled analgesia.
authors.affiliation: Gwynedd Hospitals National Health Service Trust, Bangor, Gwynedd, Wales.
authors.forename: N M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Graham
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Shanahan
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Barry
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Burgert
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Talkhani
mesh_terms: D000759:Adjuvants, Anesthesia / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016058:Analgesia, Patient-Controlled / Q000379:methods*; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000601:surgery*; D001182:Arthroscopy; D002045:Bupivacaine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004329:Droperidol / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D007270:Injections, Intra-Articular; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D009020:Morphine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000759:Adjuvants, Anesthesia; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D009020:Morphine; D004329:Droperidol; D002045:Bupivacaine