Intra-articular bupivacaine reduces postoperative pain and meperidine use after total hip arthroplasty: a randomized, double-blind study.

Author(s): Chen DW(1), Hu CC(1), Chang YH(1), Lee MS(1), Chang CJ(2), Hsieh PH(1).

Affiliation(s): Author information: (1)Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan; College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan. (2)Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.

Publication date & source: 2014, J Arthroplasty. , 29(12):2457-61

One hundred patients receiving unilateral total hip arthroplasty (THA) were randomized to receive an intra-articular injection of 300mg bupivacaine or normal saline after completion of surgery. Pain scores of the bupivacaine group were significantly lower than those of the control group the first 12hours postoperatively (all, P<0.001). A significantly lower dose of meperidine was used in the study group than in the control group the first 24hours postoperatively (median, 25 vs. 45mg, P<0.001). Nineteen patients in the study group required meperidine the first day after surgery, as compared to 45 patients in the control group. We conclude that intra-articular injection of bupivacaine after THA reduces pain and meperidine use in the first 12hours after surgery.