Ibuprofen timing for hand surgery in ambulatory care.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of pre-operative administration of ibuprofen on post-operative pain control vs. early post-operative administration for hand surgery procedures performed under local anaesthesia in ambulatory care.


METHODS
Candidates to trigger finger release by De Quervain tenosynovitis and carpal tunnel operation under local anesthesia were enrolled in the study. Group A received 400 mg ibuprofen before the operation and placebo after the procedure; group B received placebo before the operation and ibuprofen 400 mg at the end of the procedure; both groups received ibuprofen 400 mg every 6h thereafter. Visual analogue scale (VAS) was measured at fixed times before and every 6h after surgery, for a total follow-up of 18h.


RESULTS
Groups were similar according to age, gender and type of surgery. Median VAS values did not produce any statistical significance, while there was a statistically significant difference on pre-operative and early post-operative VAS values between groups (A -8.53 mm vs. B 3.36 mm, p=0.0085).


CONCLUSIONS
Average pain levels were well controlled by local anesthesia and post-operative ibuprofen analgesia. Pre-operative ibuprofen administration can contribute to improve early pain management. Level of Evidence II, Therapeutic Studies.
Policlinico Teaching Hospital, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
Enrico
E
Giuliani
Policlinico Teaching Hospital, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
Anna
A
Bianchi
Policlinico Teaching Hospital, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
Augusto
A
Marcuzzi
Policlinico Teaching Hospital, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
Antonio
A
Landi
Policlinico Teaching Hospital, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
Alberto
A
Barbieri
Analgesics/therapeutic use; Carpal tunnel syndrome; De Quervain Disease; Ibuprofen; Trigger finger disorder