ABSTRACT
Objective: To prospective study the effectiveness and safety of multimodal analgesia (MA) in treatment of avascular necrosis of the femoral head with free vascularized fibular grafting (FVFG). Methods: Sixty patients with avascular necrosis of the femoral head, who were scheduled to unilateral primary FVFG between February 2016 and December 2016 and met the selection criteria, were included in the study. All patients were allocated to two groups according to the method of random number table: MA group ( n=30) and control group ( n=30). There was no significant difference in gender, age, body mass index, side, duration and stage of avascular necrosis of the femoral head, preoperative visual analogue scale (VAS) scores under quiescent and active states, and range of motion (ROM) of hip flexion and abduction before operation ( P>0.05). The patients in the MA group were treated with MA therapy, including oral administration of celecoxib before operation, local anesthetic wound infiltration during operation, and ice compression and oral administration of celecoxib after operation. The patients in control group were only treated with patient-controlled intravenous analgesia pump. The postoperative VAS scores under quiescent and active states, ROM of hip flexion and abduction, prescription of Tramadol and adverse reaction were recorded and compared. Results: The operations were completed successfully in both groups without obvious complications and adverse reaction. The Tramadol was used in 4 cases (13.3%) of MA group and in 11 cases (36.7%) of control group, but no significant difference was found between the two groups ( χ2=4.356, P=0.072). The VAS scores under quiescent state at 6 and 24 hours postoperatively were significantly lower in MA group than in control group ( P0.05). The ROM of hip flexion in MA group was better than that in control group at 1 day postoperatively and the day of discharge ( P0.05). The ROM of hip abduction in MA group was superior to the control group at 1, 2, and 3 days postoperatively and the day of discharge ( P<0.05). Conclusion: The MA can effectively relieve the pain following FVFG and facilitate early functional exercises of the hip. The usage of opioids was also relatively fewer for MA protocol.