Efficacy of celecoxib for pain management after arthroscopic surgery of hip: a prospective randomized placebo-controlled study

The present work was conducted to examine whether celecoxib, a selective COX-2 inhibitor, 200 mg administered 1 h preoperatively to patients undergoing arthroscopic hip surgery reduces postoperative pain. Fifty-three patients undergoing arthroscopic hip surgery under spinal anesthesia were randomized to receive either 200 mg of celecoxib (Group I) or 200 mg of placebo (Group II) 1 h preoperatively. Narcotic use was monitored for 24 h, and time in recovery room was determined. Visual analog scale (VAS) scores and Short-Form 12 (SF-12), including a physical composite score (PCS) and a mental composite score (MCS), documented pain in recovery, 12 h postoperatively, and 24 h postoperatively. Moreover, time in recovery room was also investigated. We enrolled 27 patients in Group I and 26 patients in Group II. Groups were comparable for patient characteristics. No significant difference was detected in terms of VAS scores and SF-12 in recovery room. Statistically, patients in Group I showed significantly lower pain VAS scores at 12 and 24 h postoperatively. Patients taking celecoxib had significantly higher PCS at 12 and 24 h postoperatively. No difference occurred between groups for the MCS. Patients taking celecoxib also showed a significant reduction in postoperative narcotic consumption. The obtained results from the current study indicate that patients who took celecoxib 200 mg 1 h before arthroscopic hip surgery had a less painful and more rapid recovery. Celecoxib 200 mg as a single preoperative dose could be considered as part of a perioperative analgesic plan in arthroscopic hip surgery.