Efficacy of Dexmedetomidine Added to Ropivacaine Infilteration on Postoperative Pain following Spine Surgeries: A Randomized Controlled study.

Context: With modern lifestyle, there has been a steep increase in the number of low back pain patients in clinical practice. Lumbar microdiscectomy is one of the most common surgeries performed for this problem. Postoperative pain management is extremely important aspect of such advanced surgical technique among which wound infiltration is an efficient method.

Aims: The aim of the study was to compare the efficacy of dexmedetomidine added to ropivacaine verses plain ropivacaine following wound infiltration in terms of pain scores, requirement of rescue analgesia, and related adverse effects.

Settings and Design: Randomized, prospective, controlled, double-blind study over a period of 1 year in a tertiary care hospital.

Materials and Methods: Sixty patients scheduled for lumbar discectomy were randomly allocated into two groups. Group A received wound infiltration with 30 ml 0.2% ropivacaine before wound closure and Group B received wound infiltration with 1ug/kg dexmedetomidine added to 30 ml of 0.2% ropivacaine before wound closure. Data retrieved were demographic data, visual analog scores, postoperative pain scores, rescue analgesia by patient controlled analgesia pump, recovery profile, and adverse effects.

Statistical Analysis Used: Data were analyzed using statistical software SPSS version 22. Mann-Whitney test, Kruskal-Wallis test, and Chi-square test were used as applicable.

Results: Demographic data were comparable between the groups. Requirement of rescue analgesia was significantly less in Group B where combination of dexmedetomidine and ropivacaine was given.

Conclusions: Dexmedetomidine provided effective postoperative analgesia and reduced fentanyl consumption when administered in wound infiltration with ropivacaine.