Intra-Articular Sufentanil Compared to Morphine for Pain Relief After Arthroscopic Knee Surgery

Background: Prevention of postoperative pain by injecting opioid into the knee joint is believed to support the hypothesis of peripheral opioid receptor activation in inflammation. Main outcomes were reduction of pain intensity and need for supplementary analgesics. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the analgesic effects of intra-articular sufentanil in comparison with morphine, after arthreoscopic procedures of knee joint. Methods: In this prospective, double-blind study, 45 patients were randomized in three equal number groups to receive either sufentanil 5 µg (group s), morphine 3 mg (group M) or normal saline 20 cc as placebo (group p), intra-articularly at the end of arthroscopic knee surgery, under general anesthesia, which was same in all three groups. Pain levels at rest were measured by Visual Analog Scale (VAS) at intervals of 1,2,4,8,12,14 hours and during movement of knee at discharge time . Results: Significant difference between the groups (p<0.001) were found. Pain scores were statistically lower in the S and M groups in comparison with the P group, but intra-articular sufentanil was more effective than morphine. Conclusion: Intra-articular injection of morphine and sufentanil both reduce the post arthroscopic knee procedure’s pain and need for supplementary analgesics, but sufentanil, 5 µg is more effective than morphine (3 mg).