[Comparative study of ketoprofen and pethidine in severe postoperative pain]

A double-blind study was conducted to compare the efficacies of a non steroid antiinflammatory drug (ketoprofen) and a central analgesic drug (pethidine). The series included 59 patients who had undergone especially painful joint surgery (knee arthrolysis and ligamentoplasty, carpal or foot surgery). Main pain relief as assessed by the patients was the same in both groups (67% with ketoprofen or 63% with pethidine). It lasted the same length of time in both groups: 9.2 h with ketoprofen and 8 h with pethidine. An identical efficacy was observed in the most painful surgery, i.e. arthrolysis (efficacy 57% for a period of 8 h in both groups), as well as in the better tolerated procedure, i.e. carpal surgery; in this case, however, the pain relief seemed to last longer with the ketoprofen (10 h) than with the pethidine (8 h). Ketoprofen probably acts more through its central analgesic effect than its antiinflammatory effect. It has few side-effects. It does not have the risks of respiratory depression or tolerance unlike the opiate drugs. This drug could therefore be interesting in elderly patients and in surgical procedures where the active participation of patients is required for early rehabilitation, e.g. joint mobilization.