A Randomized Parallel Controlled Study of the Efficacy and Safety of Lornoxicam Versus Etoricoxib after Total Knee Arthroplasty

Objectives: The aim of the study was to compare the postoperative analgesic efficacy and safety of lornoxicam versus etoricoxib for the first 48 hours after surgery. Methods: We conducted a prospective randomized controlled study on 110 patients ASAI-II scheduled for TKA under spinal anesthesia, who received either lornoxicam 8 mg PO at the end of surgery and a further 8 mg after 12 hours (Lornoxicam Group) or etoricoxib 120 mg at the end of surgery and one placebo pill after 12 hours (Etoricoxib Group). The primary outcome measure was the cumulative dose of morphine administered during the first postoperative 24 and 48 hours. Secondary outcomes were duration of analgesia and the side effects of the treatment. Results: The groups were similar in terms of demographic data. There are no significant differences between groups regarding the morphine consumption at 24 hours (36.2 ± 12 in Lornoxicam group and 34.5 ± 14.1 in Etoricoxib group) and 48 hours postoperatively (15.6 ± 12.8 in Lornoxicam group and 18 ± 12.3 in Etoricoxib group) or between the duration of analgesia (314.5 ± 70.4 in Lornoxicam group and 320.4 ± 89.2 in Etoricoxib group). Conclusion: Postoperative use of lornoxicam for 48 hours in the dose of 8 mg PO twice a day in patients undergoing TKA has an analgetic effect comparable to etoricoxib 120 mg, fewer patients experienced adverse symptoms in the etoricoxib group, but the difference was not statistically significant.