Data from: Single-dose intra-articular bupivacaine plus morphine after knee arthroscopic surgery: a meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled studies

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of single-dose
intra-articular bupivacaine plus morphine after knee arthroscopic surgery.
Design: Meta-analysis. Data sources and study eligibility criteria: A
comprehensive literature search, using Medline (1966–2014), the Cochrane
Central Register of Controlled Trials and Embase databases, was conducted
to identify randomised placebo-controlled trials that used a combination
of single-dose intra-articular bupivacaine and morphine for postoperative
pain relief. Results: 12 articles were included in this meta-analysis. The
mean visual analogue scale (VAS) scores of the bupivacaine plus morphine
group were significantly lower than those of the placebo group (weighted
mean difference (WMD) −1.75; 95% CI −2.16 to −1.33; p<0.001). The
VAS scores at the last follow-up time point (last VAS scores) of the
bupivacaine plus morphine group were also significantly lower than those
of the placebo group (WMD −1.46; 95% CI −1.63 to −1.29; p<0.001).
The number of patients requiring supplementary analgesia was also
significantly reduced (RR 0.60; 95% CI 0.39 to 0.93; p=0.02), while there
was no significant difference in the time to first analgesic request (WMD
3.46; 95% CI −1.81 to 8.72; p=0.20) or short-term side effects (RR 1.67;
95% CI 0.65 to 4.26; p=0.29). Conclusions: The administration of
single-dose intra-articular bupivacaine plus morphine after knee
arthroscopic surgery is effective for pain relief, and its short-term side
effects remain similar to saline placebo.