title: Effect of intravenous methylprednisolone on pain after intertrochanteric femoral fracture surgery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pain after surgery is one of the major problems in patients with intertrochanteric fracture. This study investigates administration of single-dose Methylprednisolone prior to surgery with the goal of reducing Post-operative pain.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was a Double Blind Randomized Clinical Trial. Eighty two patients with stable intertrochanteric unilateral fracture were selected and divided into two groups: one received Methylprednisolone (MP) 125 mg and the other received placebo. Pain was evaluated at rest and 45° flexion of the hip in times 4, 6, 8, 12, 24, 36, and 48 hours and during walking in times 24, 36, and 48 hours after the surgery. Post-operative nausea, vomiting and fatigue and changes in C - reactive protein (CRP) levels before and after the surgery were also recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pain at rest, 45° flexion of the hip and during walking after the surgery was significantly lower in the MP group compared to the control group (p < 0.001). Fatigue (p = 0.002) and changes in CRP (p=0.001) were significantly lower in MP group. Incidence of nausea, vomiting (p = 0.37) and opioid consumption (p = 0.49) were not significantly different between the two groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Single-dose methylprednisolone 125 mg (IV) can reduce Post-operative pain in patients with intertrochanteric fracture undergoing elective surgery.
authors: Assistant Professor, Anesthesiologist, Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Rasoul-Akram Medical Center , Iran. University of Medical Sciences Tehran, Iran .
authors: Poupak
authors: P
authors: Rahimzadeh
authors: Anesthesiologist, Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Rasoul-Akram Medical Center , Iran. University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran .
authors: Farnad
authors: F
authors: Imani
authors: Anesthesiologist, Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Rasoul-Akram Medical Center , Iran. University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran .
authors: Seyed Hamid Reza
authors: SH
authors: Faiz
authors: Resident of Anesthesiology, Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Rasoul-Akram Medical Center , Iran. University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran .
authors: Nasim
authors: N
authors: Nikoubakht
authors: Assistant Professor, Preventive and Community Medicine Specialist, Community Based Participatory Research Center, Iranian Institute for Reduction of High-Risk Behaviors , Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran .
authors: Azadeh
authors: A
authors: Sayarifard
keywords: Intertrochanteric fractures; Methylprednisolone; Post-operative pain