[The utility of digital infiltration of mepivacaine and ketorolac in postoperative analgesia of the unilateral hallux valgus].

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether locally injected ketorolac provides analgesia additional to that of mepivacaine, and also to prevent, diminish or delay the peripheral hypersensitivity response of postoperative pain.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Prospective, randomized, double-blind study of 72 patients scheduled for surgery to correct unilateral hallux valgus. Group 1 (n = 24) received median infiltration at the first metatarsus of 5 ml of 2% mepivacaine and 1 ml (30 mg) of ketorolac. Group 2 (n = 21) received local infiltration of 5 ml of 2% mepivacaine and 1 ml of saline solution. Group 3, the control group (n = 27) received the same solution as did group 2, plus 30 mg of ketorolac intravenously. The postoperative analgesia prescribed was 10 mg of ketorolac orally every 8 hours. Pain was measured on a visual analog scale (VAS) 0, 1, 4, 8 and 24 hours after surgery. Time elapsed until the appearance of pain, number of ketorolac pills consumed and overall patient satisfaction were recorded.

RESULTS: There were no differences in anthropometric characteristics. Time until pain appeared was significantly longer in group 1 than in groups 2 and 3 (14.66 +/- 7.19, 5.90 +/- 2.27 and 8.70 +/- 5.02 hours, respectively). The VAS scores were significantly lower in group 1 after the fourth postoperative hour. Analgesic consumption was significantly lower in group 1.

CONCLUSIONS: Infiltration of 30 mg of ketorolac along with mepivacaine delays the appearance of postoperative pain and diminishes it in the first 24 hours after surgery to correct hallux valgus, in comparison with infiltration of mepivacaine alone plus intravenous ketorolac.