Background: The pain after knee surgery is a great challenge to physicians where lack of adequate analgesia causes many complications. Pregabalin, a gamma amino-butyric acid, has shown analgesic and sedative effects. Therefore, this article examines the effect of a preoperative single dose of oral pregabalin on total knee arthroplasty pain after surgery.
Results: The study results showed that pregabalin was found to prolong the spinal block duration (2-segment regression, L2 regression, and Bromage2 regression time). pregabalin had no significant effect on the sensory nor motor block onset (P =1.000) (P =0.078) respectively. Pain score at 6hrs and 24hrs was significantly reduced in pregabalin group. In addition, frequency and total narcotic requirements were significantly reduced in pregabalin group.
Conclusion: Premedication with oral pregabalin 150 mg promoted intrathecal bupivacaine efficacy, improved postoperative analgesia, and reduced narcotic requirements.