Arthroscopic bankart surgery: Does gabapentin reduce postoperative pain and opioid consumption? A triple-blinded randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: The role of gabapentin as preemptive analgesia in managing acute pain following shoulder bankart arthroscopy is controversial and the studies addressing this issue are limited.

HYPOTHESIS: The present study was undertaken to examine the effects of preemptive single dose of gabapentin on pain management and opioid consumption in patients undergoing arthroscopic bankart surgery.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: In the current triple-blinded randomized clinical trial, 76 eligible patients were randomly divided into two groups either taking gabapentin 600mg (G group) or placebo (P group). The primary outcomes were pain intensity assessed based on Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and secondary outcomes were opioid consumption and side effects, dizziness, sedation, nausea and vomiting at 6h and 24h follow-up visits.

RESULTS: The pain intensity were not significantly different between the G and P groups (P>0.05). The opioid consumption, however, was significantly reduced in G group at both 6h and 24h follow-up visits (P<0.001). Dizziness and sedation were similar in both groups. Nausea and vomiting were significantly lower in G group only at 6h visit but similar at 24h follow-up visit (P<0.001).

DISCUSSION: The preemptive single dose of gabapentin 600mg administered prior to arthroscopic bankart surgery does not decrease post-operation pain, but reduces opioid consumption. Gabapentin restrained postoperative nausea and vomiting for a short while (less than 6h).

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level I, treatment study.