A comparison of analgesic effect of intra-articular levobupivacaine with bupivacaine following knee arthroscopy.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the postoperative analgesic effects of intra-articular levobupivacaine with bupivacaine following knee arthroscopy.


METHODS
Forty patients, aged between 20-60 years and undergoing elective knee arthroscopy were enrolled into the study protocol that was carried out in Tepecik Education and Research Hospital, Izmir, Turkey between January and June 2007. General anesthesia protocol was the same in all patients. At the end of surgery, the patients were randomly assigned into 2 groups (n=20 in each group). Group L received 20 ml 0.5% levobupivacaine and Group B received 20 ml 0.5% bupivacaine intra-articularly. We evaluated the level of postoperative pain (by visual analogue scale at 1, 2, 4, 6, 12, and 24 hours after surgery), first analgesic requirement time (period measured from the end of the surgery until further analgesia was demanded), and total analgesic consumption during 24 hours.


RESULTS
There were no significant difference in the postoperative pain scores of the patients between groups. The first analgesic requirement times were not statistically different. Twelve patients in Group L (60%) and 9 patients in Group B (45%) needed no additional analgesic during the 24 hours (p>0.05). No complications and side effects were found related to the intra-articular treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of the study show that intra-articular 20 ml 0.5% levobupivacaine provides effective analgesia comparable to that provided by 20 ml 0.5% bupivacaine.
Department of Anesthesiology, Tepecik Education and Research Hospital, Izmir, 35120, Turkey. dr_ykaraman@hotmail.com
Yucel
Y
Karaman
Cemil
C
Kayali
Hasan
H
Ozturk
Ahmet
A
Kaya
Canan
C
Bor
D000328:Adult; D000700:Analgesics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001182:Arthroscopy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002045:Bupivacaine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D006801:Humans; D007270:Injections, Intra-Articular; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000601:surgery*; D000077554:Levobupivacaine; D008875:Middle Aged; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*
D000700:Analgesics; D000077554:Levobupivacaine; D002045:Bupivacaine