Comparison of efficacy of dexketoprofen versus paracetamol on postoperative pain and morphine consumption in laminectomy patients

Objectives: The aim of this prospective randomized, double-blind study was to evaluate the analgesic efficacy and opioidsparing effects of preemptive single dose of dexketoprofen trometamol in comparison with that of paracetamol or placebo for elective lumbar disc surgery, over a 24-hour (h) investigation period. Methods: After institutional approval and informed consent had been obtained, 75 patients scheduled for single level lumbar disc surgery were randomly allocated into three equal groups. Patients received oral dexketoprofen 25 mg (Group D), 500 mg paracetamol (Group P) or placebo tablets (Group C) 30 minutes (min) before induction of standard anesthesia. Patientcontrolled analgesia was supplied postoperatively using morphine. Hemodynamics, visual analogue scale (VAS), sedation score, morphine consumption, and side effects were recorded every 15 min in the first hour and at 2, 6 and 24 h after surgery. Results: The mean pain scores were similar among groups (p>0.05). The cumulative (SD) 24-h morphine consumption was 28.1 mg, 40.6 mg, and 43.6 mg for Groups D, P and C, respectively. The amount of morphine use at 2, 6 and 24 h was significantly lower in Group D (p<0.006). Hemodynamic parameters, sedation scores and side effects did not differ among the groups (p>0.05). Conclusion: The study demonstrated that preemptive dexketoprofen trometamol 25 mg is associated with a decrease of up to 35% in morphine consumption compared with placebo over the first 24 h following lumbar disc surgery; however, paracetamol 500 mg did not show the expected opioid-sparing effect comparatively.