Effect of Intra-articular Dexmedetomidine on Postoperative Pain after Knee Arthroscopic Surgery

Document Type : RESEARCH PAPER

Authors

1 1 Department of Anesthesiology,Pain Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran

2 Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Shohadaye Naft Hospital, Susangerd, Iran

3 Department of Anesthesiology, Shohadaye Naft Hospital, Susangerd, Iran

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to prevent and control the pain after arthroscopy that leads to patient satisfaction, 
rehabilitation, and return to normal life as soon as possible. It is hypothesized that there is no difference between intraarticular injection of dexmedetomidine and placebo after knee arthroscopy regarding pain level. 
Methods: This double-blind randomized clinical trial was conducted on 70 patients aged 18-60 years who were 
candidates for elective knee arthroscopic surgery with the American Society of Anesthesiologists Classification I-II. All 
patients underwent spinal anesthesia equally and were randomly divided into two groups of 35 cases per group. The 
drug group (D) received 2 μg/kg dexmedetomidine with 0.9% normal saline reached to a volume of 20 ml, and 20 ml of 
0.9% normal saline was injected into the knee joint through the cannular sheath in the control group (C). Postoperative 
pain intensity was recorded 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 24 h after injection using the Visual Analogue Scale. The time of requesting 
the first analgesic and the amount of analgesics consumed were recorded after 24 h.
Results: There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of age, height, weight, duration of spinal 
anesthesia, and duration of surgery (P>0.05). In group D, there was a decrease in postoperative pain, a decrease in 
the amount of analgesic consumed, and an increase in the time of the first analgesic request, compared to group C 
(P<0.05).
Conclusion: This study showed that intra-articular injection of dexmedetomidine relieved postoperative pain, reduced 
analgesic consumption, and increased the time of first analgesic request after knee arthroscopy. 
Level of evidence: I

Keywords

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The Archives of Bone and Joint Surgery
Volume 10, Issue 3
March 2022
Pages 272-277

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History

  • Receive Date: 18 December 2020
  • Revise Date: 11 April 2021
  • Accept Date: 15 April 2021
  • First Publish Date: 24 April 2021

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