Evaluating the Efficacy of Methocarbamol and Nefopam in Orthopedic Surgical Pain

• Published in: Curēus (Palo Alto, CA) CA), 2024-05, Vol.16 (5), p.e59533-e59533
• Main Authors: Al-Nasrawi, Ahmed N, Al-Ibrahim, Mustafa W, Aljabran, Saifali J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analgesics; Blood pressure; Body mass index; Bone surgery; Cardiac arrhythmia; Gender; Narcotics; Orthopedics; Pain management; Patients; Vital signs
• ISSN: 2168-8184; 2168-8184
• DOI: 10.7759/cureus.59533

Introduction Pain after orthopedic surgeries represents a special concern in patients with fractures. The use of multimodal analgesia significantly reduced the opioid need and reduced the risk of their side effects. Objectives This study compared the effectiveness and safety of methocarbamol and nefopam in the reduction of post-operative pain for patients undergoing orthopedic surgeries. Method This prospective, double-blind, randomized controlled trial took place at Al-Sader Teaching Hospital in Basrah, Iraq, from the first of February 2022 to the end of October 2023. The study aimed to assess the post-operative pain relief efficacy and safety of intramuscular nefopam (20 mg) and intravenous methocarbamol (1 g) in 110 adults (aged 18-65) undergoing elective orthopedic surgeries. Exclusions were made for allergies to the drugs, substance abuse history, and severe hepatic or renal impairment. Participants were randomized into two groups, with pain intensity measured at one hour, six hours, and 12 hours post-operation using the visual analog scale (VAS). Side effects were also evaluated. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS 27, with a significance level set at p