A COMPARISON OF DICLOFENAC WITH KETOROLAC FOR PAIN RELIEF AFTER KNEE ARTHROSCOPY

We performed a double-blind controlled trial to compare the analgesic effect of two nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. We compared rectal diclofenac 100 mg given 1 h before induction of anaesthesia with intr avenous ketorolac 10 mg given immediately before anaesthesia in 40 pat ients undergoing arthroscopy, of the knee as day cases. A visual analo gue scale was used to assess pain pr iol to discharge. Pain, analgesic consumption, sleep disturbance and restriction of activities were rec orded by telephone enquiry 24 h after surgery. There was no difference in the pain parameters, sleep disturbance, or restriction of activity between groups. We suggest that ketorolac 10 mg intravenously and dic lofenac 100 mg rectally provide comparable postoperative analgesia in the first 24 h after arthroscopy of the knee.