Intra-articular tenoxicam relieves post-arthroscopy pain.

Background: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs have been documented to be effective in the treatment of postoperative pain. The aim of this study was to evaluate the analgesic effect of local intra-articular injection of tenoxicam compared with intravenous injection on postoperative pain after arthroscopy.

Methods: After day-case arthroscopy, 60 patients were randomized to receive either tenoxicam 20 mg in 20 ml of normal saline intra-articularly and 2 ml of normal saline i.v., or 20 ml of normal saline intra-articularly and 2 ml tenoxicam 20 mg i.v. Postoperative pain was assessed using a visual analogue scale and measuring analgesic requirements.

Results: Pain scores were significantly lower in the intra-articular group at rest and during active flexion of the knee at 1, 2 and 4 hours postoperatively and during walking at 6 hours postoperatively (P < 0.05). Significantly more patients in the intravenous group required supplemental opioid analgesia within the first 4 hours postoperatively (P < 0.05).

Conclusions: Intra-articular tenoxicam 20 mg provided better analgesia and decreased the requirements for postoperative analgesic compared with i.v. tenoxicam 20 mg.