Randomised, placebo-controlled study of the postoperative analgesic effects of ketoprofen after spinal fusion surgery.

Abstract

The additive effect of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs administered with propacetamol after major orthopaedic surgery has not been studied. Thus, we performed a prospective, placebo-controlled study to assess the analgesic effects of ketoprofen in patients undergoing spinal fusion surgery and receiving propacetamol. Fifty patients undergoing spinal fusion surgery received either 100 mg of ketoprofen every 8 h or a placebo, postoperatively. All patients received propacetamol and morphine (intravenous titration followed by patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) over 24 h). Pain was assessed using a visual analogue pain scale (VASpi). Data are mean+/-SD. During morphine titration, ketoprofen did not significantly reduce the dose of morphine (8+/-6 vs 11+/-4 mg, NS) whereas it significantly decreased VASpi (P<0.001). During PCA, ketoprofen significantly reduced morphine consumption (25+/-17 vs 38+/-20 mg, P=0.04) and VASpi (P=0.002). The total postoperative morphine consumption was significantly (33%) reduced with ketoprofen. Ketoprofen reduced morphine requirements and improved postoperative analgesia in patients undergoing major spinal surgery and receiving propacetamol.