Analgesic effects of intraarticular bupivacaine after day-case arthroscopy

A blind, prospective, randomized, controlled trial was conducted to assess the analgesic properties of intraarticular bupivacaine after day-case arthroscopy. Forty-eight patients undergoing routine arthroscopy were randomly allocated to receive 10 ml of 0.5% bupivacaine or 0.9% saline into the joint at the end of the procedure. The analgesic effects were assessed by visual analogue scales at discharge, on going to bed, and the following morning. Significant reduction in reported pain was found in the treatment groups on leaving the hospital and later the same evening, although no benefit was found the following day.