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Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery

28-03-2014 | Orthopaedic Surgery

Treatment of postoperative pain after total hip arthroplasty: comparison between metamizol and paracetamol as adjunctive to opioid analgesics—prospective, double-blind, randomised study

Authors: Zrinka Oreskovic, Goran Bicanic, Pero Hrabac, Branko Tripkovic, Domagoj Delimar

Published in: Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery

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Abstract

Introduction

Metamizole use has been limited because of its risk of agranulocytosis. However, more recent literature seems to support its safety. This prospective, randomised, double-blind study was conducted to compare the analgesic effects of intravenous metamizole or intravenous paracetamol in combination with morphine PCA during the first 24 h following total hip arthroplasty.

Materials and methods

One hundred ten consecutive patients were selected for study. The two study groups were (A) metamizole, (B) paracetamol. Postoperative pain therapy was provided by Morphine PCA pump. In the first treatment group (A group), all patients received intravenous metamizole 1.5 g every 8 h during the first 24 postoperative hours. In the second treatment group (B group), all patients received intravenous paracetamol 1 g every 8 h during the first 24 postoperative hours. Postoperative pain intensity was measured 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 14, 18, 22 h after the end of surgery by a VAS.

Results

Statistically significant differences in VAS pain values favoring metamizole were reported at 6-h (p = 0.038), 8-h (p = 0.036), 14-h (p = 0.011), 18-h (p < 0.001) and 22-h (p = 0.025) post-baseline. Mean cumulative pain values were 17.9 for metamizole and 30.6 for paracetamol.

Conclusions

In this study, we have also shown excellent efficacy of paracetamol and metamizole combined with opioids, but metamizole proved to be a better analgesic than paracetamol. It is also necessary to mention the financial aspect considering that intravenous paracetamol is about ten times more expensive than an equivalent analgesic doses of intravenous metamizole.
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Metadata
Title
Treatment of postoperative pain after total hip arthroplasty: comparison between metamizol and paracetamol as adjunctive to opioid analgesics—prospective, double-blind, randomised study
Authors
Zrinka Oreskovic
Goran Bicanic
Pero Hrabac
Branko Tripkovic
Domagoj Delimar
Publication date
28-03-2014
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery
Print ISSN: 0936-8051
Electronic ISSN: 1434-3916
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00402-014-1979-7