Does Treatment with Dexmedetomidine Intra-articularly Improve Postoperative Pain and Rehabilitation after Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction?

Abstract

This study aims to evaluate the analgesic efficacy of dexmedetomidine added to levobupivacaine following anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) surgery. Fifty patients undergoing ACL reconstruction were included. Group DL (dexmedetomidin-levobupivacaine) received 20 mL 0.5% levobupivacaine plus 1 mL (100 μg) dexmedetomidine. Group L (levobupivacaine) patients received 20 mL 0.5% levobupivacaine plus 1 mL saline 10 minutes before tourniquet release. A patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) pump was then connected, delivering 0.5 mg at every 10 minutes and 1-mg morphine and 75-mg diclofenac sodium was used as a rescue analgesic. Postoperative pain was evaluated 0, 2, 4, 6, 12, and 24 hours after extubation at rest and during movement. A rehabilitation program was started after surgery. Postoperative continuous passive motion (CPM) starting time, postoperative leg flexion angle, and straight leg lifting time were evaluated for each group. There were no significant differences between the groups in terms of demographic data and operation time. Morphine consumption, analgesic requirements, and visual analogue scale (VAS) assessments were significantly lower in group DL during the 24-hour period after surgery. The time to start CPM in the postoperative period was significantly shorter in group DL. Passive joint flexion angle was significantly higher in group DL. Postoperative straight leg lifting time was significantly shorter in group DL. Adding dexmedetomidine to the intra-articular levobupivacaine provided better postoperative pain control and improved rehabilitation period after ACL surgery.