Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for postoperative pain control after lumbar spine surgery: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) play a role in pain relief, especially in postoperative pain caused by inflammation. They have demonstrated significant opioid dose-sparing effects, which help in reducing postoperative effects and opioid side effects. The objective of this meta-analysis was to explore the role of NSAIDs in reducing postoperative pain at different time intervals and provide reference for medication after lumbar spine surgery by a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCT).

DESIGN: A meta-analysis study of randomized controlled trials.

SETTING: Postoperative recovery area.

PATIENTS: Adult patients who have undergone lumbar spine surgery.

INTERVENTION: Patients received NSAIDs for pain control after lumbar spine surgery.

MEASUREMENTS: Standardized mean difference (SMD) and 95%CI were used to evaluate the visual analog scale of postoperative pain.

MAIN RESULTS: Four hundred and eight participants from eight studies were included in this study. The difference between the NSAIDs group and placebo is significant in 0-6, 12, and 24h groups (overall: SMD=-0.72, 95%CI -0.98 to -0.45; 0-6h: SMD=0.50, 95%CI -0.81 to -0.19; 12h: SMD=-1.07, 95%CI -1.45 to -0.70; 24h: SMD=-1.16, 95%CI -1.87 to -0.45). Heterogeneity and publication bias were observed in the 0-6 and 24h groups.

CONCLUSION: NSAIDs are effective in postoperative analgesia after lumbar spine surgery. The study type, NSAID dose, different surgery types, and analgesic type might influence the efficacy of NSAIDs.