An Opioid-Sparing Pain Protocol of Intravenous and Oral Ketorolac Reduces Opioid Consumption and Pain Levels after Arthroscopic Meniscus Surgery: A Prospective, Randomized Controlled Trial.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The primary purpose was to compare ketorolac to oxycodone-acetaminophen with respect to pain and opioid consumption after arthroscopic meniscus surgery. The secondary purpose was to compare short-term functional outcomes between the two protocols. METHODS: A power analysis demonstrated that 43 patients were required. In this randomized control trial, patients with meniscal pathology undergoing arthroscopic meniscus surgery were included. Group 1 received oxycodone-acetaminophen alone. Group 2 received one dose of intravenous ketorolac intraoperatively, oral ketorolac upon discharge, and "rescue" oxycodone-acetaminophen. Patients recorded the number of opioid tablets consumed and visual analog pain scale (VAS) scores three times per day for five days postoperatively. Opioids were converted to morphine milligram equivalents (MME). VAS, Lysholm Knee Scoring Scale (LKSS), and Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) were obtained. RESULTS: Forty-eight patients were randomized. There were 25 patients in the control group and 23 patients in the ketorolac group. The mean age was 47.9 (±14.3) years. Fifty-two percent (n=25) of the population were female. Three patients (6.3%) underwent meniscal repair. During the first five days postoperatively, the mean VAS score (ß= -13.2, SE=5.97, p=0.029) and the MME consumed were significantly lower (ß=-4.7, SE=1.93, p=0.015) per time point in the ketorolac group relative to the control group. The control group had better LKSS (80.6 [SD 18.5] versus 65 [SD 21.5], p=0.016) and KOOS (74.1 [SD 16.7] versus 61.9 [SD 18.6], p=0.029) scores at 6 weeks. There were no significant differences in the rates of side effects. CONCLUSIONS: An opioid-sparing pain protocol of intravenous and oral ketorolac is associated with significant reductions in VAS scores and MME consumption in the first five days after arthroscopic meniscus surgery. There were significant differences in patient-reported outcomes at final follow-up, favoring the control group. There were no significant differences in adverse reactions and side effects. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Therapeutic Level II, prospective randomized-controlled trial.