Preoperative administration of intravenous flurbiprofen axetil reduces postoperative pain for spinal fusion surgery.

Objective: The aim of the study was to investigate postoperative analgesia and the opioid-sparing effect of the preoperative administration of intravenous flurbiprofen axetil in patients undergoing spinal fusion surgery.

Methods: Thirty-six patients were randomly allocated into one of three groups. Group A received preoperative flurbiprofen axetil, 1 mg x kg(-1). Group B received postoperative flurbiprofen axetil, 1 mg x kg(-1). Group C received a placebo. All groups were given a standardized anesthesia and intravenous morphine via a patient-controlled analgesia device for postoperative analgesia. The pain score was evaluated by a visual analog scale (VAS) at 0 (T(0)), 1 (T(1)), 2 (T(2)), 6 (T(3)), 12 (T(4)), and 24 (T(5)) h after surgery, and the morphine requirement was recorded during the study period.

Results: VAS in group A was significantly lower than that in group B at T(0) and T(1). VAS in group A was significantly lower than that in group C throughout the time course after surgery. Postoperative morphine consumption in group A was significantly lower than that in groups B and C at T(0) to T(3).

Conclusions: As compared with postoperative administration, preoperative administration of intravenous flurbiprofen axetil provides better postoperative analgesia and an opioid-sparing effect in patients undergoing spinal fusion surgery under general anesthesia.