Perioperative Intravenous Nefopam on Pain Management and Ambulation after Open Spine Surgery: A Randomized Double-Blind Controlled Study

Abstract

Study Design: This was a randomized double-blind controlled study.Purpose: This study was designed to evaluate the effects of intravenous nefopam regarding its ability to reduce morphine consumption and postoperative pain and improve recovery in patients undergoing open spine surgery.Overview of Literature: Multimodal analgesia, including nonopioid medications, is essential for pain management in spine surgery. Evidence regarding the use of intravenous nefopam in open spine surgery as part of enhanced recovery after surgery is lacking.Methods: In this study, 100 patients undergoing lumbar decompressive laminectomy with fusion were randomized into two groups. The nefopam group received 20-mg intravenous nefopam diluted in 100-mL normal saline intraoperatively, followed by 80-mg nefopam diluted in 500-mL normal saline, administered as a continuous infusion postoperatively for 24 hours. The control group received an identical volume of normal saline. Postoperative pain was managed using intravenous morphine via patient-controlled analgesia. Morphine consumption in the first 24 hours was recorded as the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes, including postoperative pain score, postoperative function, and length of hospital stay (LOS), were assessed.Results: No statistically significant differences in the total morphine consumption and postoperative pain score in the first 24 hours postoperatively between the two groups. At the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU), the nefopam group demonstrated lower pain scores while at rest (<i>p</i> =0.03) and upon movement (<i>p</i> =0.02) than the normal saline group. However, the severity of postoperative pain between the two groups was similar from postoperative day 1 to day 3. LOS was significantly shorter in the nefopam group than in the control group (<i>p</i> <0.01). The time to first sitting and walking and PACU discharge between the two groups were comparable.Conclusions: Perioperative intravenous nefopam demonstrated significant pain reduction during the early postoperative period and shortened LOS. Nefopam is considered safe and effective as a part of multimodal analgesia in open spine surgery.

Effect of Nefopam on Dysesthesia, Postoperative Pain, and Satisfaction in Patients with Lumbar Spinal Stenosis Undergoing Spine Surgery: A Double-Blind, Randomized Study

“…Some studies have reported that nefopam did not reduce PCA or opioid consumption during the first 3 d post-operation [31][32][33]. In contrast, another study found that the group treated with nefopam experienced less pain during ambulation and had a shorter hospitalization period than the control group [12]. In our study, the nefopam group reported reduced postoperative pain; however, the difference was not statistically significant.…”

“…Several studies investigating various types of surgeries, including abdominal, thoracic, and orthopedic procedures, have documented that nefopam reduces acute postoperative pain and exhibits an opioid-sparing effect [9][10][11][12]. Recently, there has been growing attention paid to the role of nefopam in neuropathic pain [13].…”