Riassunto dello studio

Forty-eight patients with meniscal pathology undergoing arthroscopic meniscus surgery were randomized to receive oxycodone-acetaminophen alone (n = 25) or a ketorolac protocol—30 mg IV intraoperatively plus 10 mg orally every 6 hours for 3 days, with rescue oxycodone-acetaminophen (n = 23). The primary outcomes were VAS pain and opioid consumption (converted to MMEs) during postoperative days (POD) 1–5. Secondary outcomes were Lysholm Knee Score (LKSS) and KOOS at 2 and 6 weeks. Outcomes were assessed thrice daily through POD5 and again at 2 and 6 weeks. Overall, the results revealed lower VAS and fewer MMEs with ketorolac during POD1–5; however, at 6 weeks the control group had higher KOOS and LKSS. There were no significant differences in adverse events. These findings suggest ketorolac can meaningfully reduce early pain and opioid use without increasing short-term harms, though later PROs favored standard care.