J Knee Surg 2004; 17(1): 18-23
DOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1247142
Original Article

© 2004 Thieme Medical Publishers

Postoperative Pain Management After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

Paul R. Beck1 , Shane J. Nho3 , Jefferson Balin3 , Shyamala K. Badrinath1, 2 , Charles A. Bush-Joseph, Bernard R. Bach1  Jr , Jennifer K. Hayden1
  • 1The Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Chicago, Ill
  • 2The Department of Anesthesia, Chicago, Ill
  • 3Medical students, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Ill
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
27 January 2010 (online)

ABSTRACT

This study compared pain and its management in four groups of patients after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) surgery. Group 1 consisted of primary ACL reconstruction, group 2 primary ACL reconstruction with meniscal repair, group 3 primary ACL reconstruction with meniscal resection, and group 4 revision ACL reconstruction with patellar tendon allograft. Each patient was instructed to record his or her pain level on a visual analog pain scale (VAS) prior to the procedure and for 7 days postoperatively. All patients received a prescribed narcotic to be taken orally as needed every 4-6 hours. Each patient was instructed to taper its use and supplement with non-narcotic as symptoms allowed.

The VAS score for all groups peaked at postoperative day 1 and remained elevated at postoperative day 2. At postoperative day 7, the VAS scores for groups 1, 2, and 3 began to show signs of further decline, whereas group 4 persisted at postoperative day 5 levels. A general trend of decreasing narcotic use over time and increasing non-narcotic use was noted in each group; however, these findings were not statistically significant. All four groups had nearly identical mean VAS scores and corresponding narcotic use for each post-operative day despite the differing levels of complexity of surgical intervention in each group.

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