Analgesic Efficacy of the Intra-articular Administration of S(+)- Ketamine in Patients Undergoing Total Knee Arthroplasty

This report has been verified by one or more authors of the original publication.

60 patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA) were randomized to one of three groups to examine the effects of S(+)- ketamine on postoperative pain. Patients were randomized to receive intra-articular injections of 0.25 mg.kg of S(+)- ketamine diluted in 20 mL of saline solution 0.9% (group A), 0.5 mg.kg of S(+)- ketamine diluted in 20 mL of saline solution 0.9% (group B), or 20 mL of intra-articular saline 0.9% (group C) immediately after surgery. Over 24 hours, there was no difference between the three groups for intensity of pain, analgesia consumption and adverse events. Group A demonstrated a non-significant trend towards lower pain scores, less consumption of rescue analgesia, and longer time before additional analgesia was needed.