Journal of Anesthesia

, Volume 23, Issue 4, pp 508–512 | Cite as

A comparison of intra-articular magnesium and/or morphine with bupivacaine for postoperative analgesia after arthroscopic knee surgery

  • Sherif Farouk
  • Ansam Aly
Original Article
First Online:
Received:
Accepted:

Abstract

Purpose

Both magnesium and morphine provide enhanced patient analgesia after arthroscopic knee surgery when administered separately via the intra-articular route. Magnesium sulfate amplifies the analgesic effect of morphine. This study was designed to compare the analgesic effects of intra-articular magnesium and morphine, with bupivacaine, when used separately and in combination.

Methods

Eighty patients undergoing arthroscopic menisectomy were randomized blindly into four intra-articular groups: group B+Mor+Mg received 20 ml 0.25% bupivacaine, morphine 2 mg, and magnesium 150 mg; group B+Mor received 20 ml 0.25% bupivacaine and morphine 2 mg; group B+Mg received 20 ml 0.25% bupivacaine and magnesium 150 mg; and group B received 20 ml 0.25% bupivacaine. Pain scores at rest and during movement, analgesic duration, and total analgesic consumption were recorded.

Results

Group B+Mor and group B+Mg patients had equally effective postoperative analgesia. Group B+Mor+Mg patients had significantly reduced visual analogue scale (VAS) values both at rest and during movement and significantly increased time to first postoperative analgesic request, as well as significantly reduced total analgesic consumption, compared with the other groups.

Conclusion

Intra-articular administration of magnesium sulfate or morphine, with bupivacaine, had comparable analgesic effects in the doses used. Their combination provided more effective postoperative analgesia than either drug alone.

Key words

Analgesia Postoperative Analgesic technique Intra-articular Pharmacology Magnesium sulfate Morphine 
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Copyright information

© Japanese Society of Anesthesiologists 2009

Authors and Affiliations

  • Sherif Farouk
    • 1
    • 3
  • Ansam Aly
    • 2
  1. 1.Department of Anaesthesiology, Faculty of MedicineAin-Shams UniversityCairoEgypt
  2. 2.Department of Physiology, Faculty of MedicineAin-Shams UniversityCairoEgypt
  3. 3.Heliopolis, CairoEgypt

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