The efficacy of pregabalin for the management of postoperative pain in primary total knee and hip arthroplasty: a meta-analysis.
OBJECTIVE
A systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of pregabalin for the management of postoperative pain in patients undergoing primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and primary total hip arthroplasty (THA).


METHODS
The PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Google Scholar databases were searched for related articles using search strategy. RevMan 5.3 software was selected to conduct the meta-analysis.


RESULTS
Seven RCTs were included in our meta-analysis. There were significant differences in visual analogue scale (VAS) at 24 and 48 h with rest, knee flexion degree, mean morphine consumption, and postoperative side effects (nausea, vomiting, pruritus, and dizziness) when comparing the pregabalin group to the placebo group after TKA and THA. However, the differences in VAS at 72 h with rest and at 24 h on movement were not significant between the two groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Pregabalin was found to improve pain control at 24 and 48 h with rest, reduce morphine consumption, improve the knee flexion degree, decrease the incident rate of nausea, vomiting, and pruritus, and increase the incident rate of dizziness after TKA and THA but could not improve the pain control at 72 h with rest. In summary, the use of pregabalin may be a valuable asset in pain management within the first 48 h after TKA and THA. However, future studies regarding doses and pregabalin medication are required.
Biomechanics Labs of Orthopaedics Institute, Tianjin Hospital, Tianjin, 300050, People's Republic of China.|Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300070, People's Republic of China.
Fei
F
Li
Biomechanics Labs of Orthopaedics Institute, Tianjin Hospital, Tianjin, 300050, People's Republic of China. majianxiong957@163.com.
Jianxiong
J
Ma
Biomechanics Labs of Orthopaedics Institute, Tianjin Hospital, Tianjin, 300050, People's Republic of China.
Mingjie
M
Kuang
Biomechanics Labs of Orthopaedics Institute, Tianjin Hospital, Tianjin, 300050, People's Republic of China.
Xuan
X
Jiang
Biomechanics Labs of Orthopaedics Institute, Tianjin Hospital, Tianjin, 300050, People's Republic of China.
Ying
Y
Wang
Biomechanics Labs of Orthopaedics Institute, Tianjin Hospital, Tianjin, 300050, People's Republic of China.
Bin
B
Lu
Biomechanics Labs of Orthopaedics Institute, Tianjin Hospital, Tianjin, 300050, People's Republic of China.
Xingwen
X
Zhao
Biomechanics Labs of Orthopaedics Institute, Tianjin Hospital, Tianjin, 300050, People's Republic of China.
Lei
L
Sun
Biomechanics Labs of Orthopaedics Institute, Tianjin Hospital, Tianjin, 300050, People's Republic of China. maxinlong4787@163.com.
Xinlong
X
Ma
D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D006801:Humans; D009020:Morphine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D009294:Narcotics / Q000008:administration & dosage; D059408:Pain Management / Q000379:methods; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D000069583:Pregabalin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; D009294:Narcotics; D000069583:Pregabalin; D009020:Morphine
Arthroplasty; Meta-analysis; Pain; Pregabalin