The analgesic evaluation of gabapentin for arthroscopy: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

• Published in: Medicine (Baltimore) Vol. 100; no. 20; p. e25740
• Main Authors: Huang, Feiri, Yang, Zhifang, Su, Zhongliang, Gao, Xiaosheng
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Lippincott Williams & Wilkins 21.05.2021
• Subjects: Arthroscopy - adverse effects; Gabapentin - administration & dosage; Gabapentin - adverse effects; Humans; Pain Management - adverse effects; Pain Management - methods; Pain Measurement - statistics & numerical data; Pain, Postoperative - diagnosis; Pain, Postoperative - drug therapy; Pain, Postoperative - etiology; Placebos - administration & dosage; Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting - epidemiology; Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting - etiology; Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting - prevention & control; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 0025-7974; 1536-5964
• DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000025740

The efficacy of gabapentin for pain management of arthroscopy remains controversial. We conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to explore the influence of gabapentin versus placebo on the postoperative pain intensity of arthroscopy. We search PubMed, EMbase, Web of science, EBSCO, and Cochrane library databases through April 2020 for randomized controlled trials assessing the effect of gabapentin versus placebo on pain control of arthroscopy. This meta-analysis is performed using the random-effect model. Five randomized controlled trials are included in the meta-analysis. Overall, compared with control group for arthroscopy, gabapentin remarkably decreases pain scores at 24 hour (standard mean difference [SMD]=-0.68; 95% confidence interval [CI]=-1.15 to -0.02; P = .21), analgesic consumption (SMD = -18.24; 95% CI=-24.61 to -11.88; P < .00001), nausea and vomiting (OR = 0.42; 95% CI = 0.21 to 0.84; P = .01), but has no obvious influence on pain scores at 6 h (SMD = -1.30; 95% CI = -2.92 to 0.31; P = .11) or dizziness (OR = 1.12; 95% CI = 0.56 to 2.24; P = .75). Gabapentin is effective for pain control after arthroscopy.