The Effect of a Single Dose of Preemptive Pregabalin Administered With COX-2 Inhibitor: A Trial in Total Knee Arthroplasty

We sought to compare a group (Group L) (n = 21) of patients that underwent total knee arthroplasty and received a single preoperative dose of pregabalin combined with a COX-2 inhibitor with a control group (Group C) (n = 20) that only received a COX-2 inhibitor in terms of (1) acute postoperative pain intensity, (2) analgesic consumption, and (3) functional recovery. Mean cumulative fentanyl consumption during the first 48 hours was lower in Group L than in Group C (P < 0.05). The pain scores at rest were lower in Group L at 6 and 12 hours after surgery (P < 0.05). No significant intergroup difference was noted in functional recovery. The addition of pregabalin led to an additive reduction in early postoperative pain and analgesic consumption. (C) 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.