Pain Management After Carpal Tunnel Release Surgery: A Prospective Randomized Double-Blinded Trial Comparing Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen, and Oxycodone.

PURPOSE: Adequate postoperative pain control in hand surgery is a multifactorial issue affecting patient satisfaction, outcomes, and safety. However, prescription opioid abuse is becoming an increasingly prevalent problem in the Unites States. The purpose of this study was to determine if there was a difference in pain levels or pill consumption when using nonopioids, ibuprofen (IBU) and acetaminophen (ACE), versus an opioid, oxycodone (OXY), after carpal tunnel release (CTR) performed exclusively under local anesthesia without sedation.

METHODS

Patients scheduled for primary unilateral CTR under local anesthesia alone were randomized to receive 10 deidentified opaque capsules of either OXY 5 mg, IBU 600 mg, or ACE 500 mg after surgery. Both the patient and the surgeon were blinded to the distributed medication. Patients reported the worst pain experienced daily (0-10 scale), the number of pills consumed daily, and any adverse effects from postoperative days 0-5.

RESULTS

Analgesic pill-type distribution between the 105 patients who completed the study was 37 OXY, 34 IBU, and 34 ACE. For the endoscopic CTR group, mean total pills consumed from the day of surgery through postoperative day 5 for OXY, IBU, and ACE were 2.9, 4.2, and 2.7, respectively. The average worst daily pain scores for all days for the OXY, IBU, and ACE groups were 2.8, 2.5, and 2.8, respectively. For the open CTR group, mean total pills consumed from the day of surgery through postoperative day 5 for OXY, IBU, and ACE were 3.7, 5.1, and 4.2, respectively. The average worst daily pain scores for all days for the OXY, IBU, and ACE groups were 3.4, 2.5, and 2.3, respectively. Four of 5 adverse events were reported by OXY group patients, but all were minor with no reoperations or readmissions.

CONCLUSIONS

We recommend using nonopioids such as ACE and IBU in the postoperative management after CTR surgery, and regardless of the medication prescribed, we advise prescribing no more than 5-10 pills after surgery.

TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic II.