Effect of Intravenous Methylprednisolone on Pain after Intertrochanteric Femoral Fracture Surgery
GC01-GC04
Correspondence
Dr. Seyed Hamid Reza Faiz,
MD, Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences (IUMS), Tehran, Iran.
Phone: +98-9121534811 Tel: +98-9121534811, Fax: +98-21-66509059, Email: hrfaiz@hotmail.com
Background: Pain after surgery is one of the major problems in patients with intertrochanteric fracture. This study investigates administration of single-dose Methylprednisolone prior to surgery with the goal of reducing post-operative pain.
Materials and Methods: The study was a Double Blind Randomized Clinical Trial. Eighty two patients with stable intertrochanteric unilateral fracture were selected and divided into two groups: one received Methylprednisolone (MP) 125 mg and the other received placebo. Pain was evaluated at rest and 45° flexion of the hip in times 4, 6, 8, 12, 24, 36, and 48 hours and during walking in times 24, 36, and 48 hours after the surgery. Post-operative nausea, vomiting and fatigue and changes in C - reactive protein (CRP) levels before and after the surgery were also recorded.
Results: Pain at rest, 45° flexion of the hip and during walking after the surgery was significantly lower in the MP group compared to the control group (p < 0.001). Fatigue (p = 0.002) and changes in CRP (p=0.001) were significantly lower in MP group. Incidence of nausea (p = 0.37), vomiting (p = 0.45) and opioid consumption (p = 0.49) were not significantly different between the two groups.
Conclusion: Single-dose methylprednisolone 125 mg (IV) can reduce post-operative pain in patients with intertrochanteric fracture undergoing elective surgery.