Multimodal analgesia versus patient-controlled analgesia in the management of acute postoperative spinal pain: systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Spine diseases have a high annual prevalence and are the main causes of years lived with disability and chronic pain. Among the postoperative analgesic control options, patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) and multimodal analgesia (MMA) have shown good clinical results. This meta-analysis seeks new evidence to help in the treatment of acute postoperative pain in patients undergoing spinal surgery. CONTENTS: The following databases were used: Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Medline and Embase. Studies that compared two post-surgical analgesic interventions were included; MMA and PCA. The parameters evaluated were: analgesic effect; opioid consumption; length of hospital stay; and adverse effects. Registration of the systematic review protocol: (PROSPERO CRD42023446627). There was no statistical difference when assessing analgesic improvement comparing MMA to PCA (MD -0.12 [-0.41, 0.17] 95%CI with p=0.69). There was a statistical difference, with lower opioid consumption in MMA compared to PCA (MD -3.04 [-3.69, -2.39] 95%CI with p=0.0002). Statistically significant difference regarding length of hospital stay in favor of MMA (MD -13.17 [-16.98, -9.36] 95%CI with p=0.00001), and significantly lower incidence of nausea and vomiting in patients undergoing MMA in compared to PCA (OR 0.26 [0.11, -0.64] 95%CI with p=0.003). CONCLUSION: MMA was equivalent to PCA in the treatment of acute postoperative spinal pain, with the significant clinical advantage and safety of lower amounts of infused opioids, shorter hospital stay and lower incidence of adverse effects.

Keywords

• acute pain
• analgesia
• combined modality therapy
• low back pain
• modality therapy
• neck pain