Comparison of the effect of apotel and pregabalin on postoperative pain among patients undergoing lower limb orthopedic surgeries

INTRODUCTION: Proper control of postoperative pain is one of the major challenges after surgery. Such pains result in physical complications, increased metabolism, exacerbations of underlying diseases, and increased blood pressure. The aim of the present study was to compare the effect of apotel and pregabalin on postoperative pain among patients undergoing lower limb surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study is a double-blind randomized clinical trial. About 75 patients undergoing lower limb orthopedic surgeries in Valiasr Hospital in Arak, Iran, were enrolled in the study. Patients were divided into three groups as follow: The first group received a 150-mg pregabalin capsule 2 h before the surgery. The placebo group received capsule that was replaced by starch. Furthermore, other group received 1 g of apotel in 200 mL of normal saline, 20 min before surgery. Pain at 2, 4, 12, and 24 h after surgery was recorded based on visual analogue scale. The amount of opioid use was recorded in the first 24 h in milligrams. Patient sedation was recorded by Ramsey Sedation Scale at 2, 6, 12, and 24 h after surgery. Finally, the data were analyzed using SPSS-20. RESULTS: Pain in the apotel group was found to be lower when comparing with other group in 2, 4, 12, and 24 h after surgery (P = 0.0001). Ramsey score was found to be more in the pregabalin group at 2.6, 12, and 24 h after surgery (P < 0.05). In addition, the lowest opioid use was in the apotel group (P = 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Our findings revealed that apotel had a better effect on pain management, whereas pregabalin exhibited better effect on the sedation of patients.