Advances in Human Biology (Jan 2017)

Premedication with oral gabapentin versus intravenous paracetamol for post-operative analgesia after tibial fracture surgery

  • Mohammad Khalili,
  • Hesameddin Modir,
  • Afsaneh Norouzi,
  • Abolfazl Mohammadbeigi,
  • Seyed Arash Bagherinejad Somesara

DOI
https://doi.org/10.4103/AIHB.AIHB_30_17
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 7, no. 3
pp. 115 – 118

Abstract

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Introduction: Much attention has been devoted to the management of post-operative pain. Pain reduction brings more comfort and leads to faster recovery and mobilisation of a patient. In addition, it reduces thromboembolic events and eventually the length of hospital stay and cost of treatment. This study was conducted to compare the efficacy of gabapentin versus paracetamol for post-operative analgesia after tibial fracture surgery. Materials and Methods: This study was designed as a randomised, controlled clinical trial, in which 96 patients undergoing elective tibial fracture surgery under general anaesthesia were divided into three groups (gabapentin, paracetamol and placebo). Half an hour before induction of anaesthesia, patients received 300 mg oral gabapentin or 1000 mg paracetamol or 100 ml normal saline (these two latter as intravenous infusions) according to their groups. Surgery was performed under general anaesthesia, with similar anaesthetic regimen for all patients. The pain intensity was measured using a visual analogue scale ruler at 2, 4 and 6 h after operation. Collected data were recorded then and analysed using the statistical software SPSS. Results: At 2, 4 and 6 h after surgery, no significant differences were observed between the two paracetamol and gabapentin groups in terms of pain intensity. Pain intensity in the placebo group was significantly higher than the two case groups. Mean opioid consumption as a rescue intervention was not significantly different between the three groups. However, the placebo group included a larger number of patients requiring opioid analgesics, which was significantly different. Conclusion: A significant pain reduction was observed in both case groups as compared to placebo. Gabapentin and paracetamol had similar efficacies in post-operative analgesia after tibial fracture surgery. No difference was found between the three groups in terms of mean opioid analgesic requirements.

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