Abstract :
Background: Local anaesthetics in intra-articular route are commonly used for the management of pain after arthroscopic
knee surgery. Dexmedetomidine prolongs the duration of commonly used local anesthetics. In this study, analgesic effect
of intra-articular administration of levobupivacaine and dexmedetomidine was compared with ropivacaine and
dexmedetomidine in arthroscopic knee surgery. Methods: 80 patients, aged between 20 to 60 years of ASA I and II
posted for knee arthroscopy were divided into two equal groups (n = 40) in a randomized double blind study. Patients in
Group LD received 10 ml of 0.5% levobupivacaine and 1 mcg/kg dexmedetomidine and Group RD received 10 ml of 0.75%
ropivacaine and 1 mcg/kg of dexmedetomidine through intra-articular route at the end of the surgery. In the post-operative
period, pain intensity was assessed by visual analogue scale(VAS) VAS score was recorded at 1st, 5th, 8th, 12th and
18th post-operative hours. Duration of analgesia, total rescue analgesic requirement in first 18 hours and any side effects
were recorded. Results: Group LD showed significantly longer duration of postoperative analgesia and lesser rescue
analgesic requirement compared to group RD. Group RD had higher mean VAS score at 5 th and 12 th post-operative hours
compare to group LD. Conclusion: Intra-articular levobupivacaine and dexmedetomidine combine provides better postoperative
pain relief by increasing duration of the analgesia, and decreasing the need of rescue analgesic compared to
intra-articular ropivacaine and dexmedetomidine.
Keyword :
Dexmedetomidine, levobupivacaine, ropivacaine