Intravenous Lidocaine for Postoperative Analgesia in 90 patients After Total Knee Arthroplasty and Limb Fractures

BACKGROUND: The aim of this research was to investigate the analgesic effects of intravenous lidocaine on postoperative pain management in orthopedic patients after total joint arthroplasty and fractures of the limbs and to compare lidocaine efficacy between these orthopedic surgical procedures. MATERIAL/METHODS: Ninety patients scheduled for elective orthopedic surgery were recruited: 46 patients with total knee arthroplasty, and 35 patients with femoral fractures. Patients in the lidocaine group received lidocaine during the induction phase of anesthesia as a bolus injection of 1.5·kg(−1)·mg over 10 min, followed by intravenous infusion of 1.5 mg·kg(−1)·h(−1) for 24 postoperative hours. Patients in the control group received an equal volume of saline as placebo administered at the same rate. Pain scores were assesed at intervals of 0, 15, 30, 60 min, and 6, 12, and 24 h postoperatively. The reduction rate of additional analgesics, total analgesic use, incidence of nausea and vomiting, mobilization, length of hospital stay, adverse effects, and hemodynamic parameters were secondary outcomes. RESULTS: Pain scores at rest and during movement were significantly lower in the lidocaine group compared to those in controls starting at 30 min (P=0.03), the first postoperative hour, and also at 6, 12, and 24 h (P<0.001). Additional analgesics were administered at a significantly lower rate in the lidocaine group (P<0.05). Total analgesic use in the postoperative period was significantly higher in the control group (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that intravenous lidocaine provided adequate postoperative analgesia for orthopedic patients undergoing elective total joint arthroplasty and limb fracture repair.