[Study of a protocol of intra-articular analgesia after arthroscopy of the knee]

The purpose of this study was to assess the analgesic effects of intra-articular injection of a morphine-bupivacaine combination following knee arthroscopy. 47 patients were evaluated. Knee arthroscopies were all performed under general anaesthesia, using propofol, alfentanil, isoflurane and nitrous oxide. Analgesic effects were evaluated by a visual analogic pain scale. Serum bupivacaine was measured during the first 8 postoperative hours. Analgesia was good in the immediate postoperative period, with minimal side effects. The serum bupivacaine levels were low. However the analgesic efficacy of intra-articular injection of morphine-bupivacaine should be corroborated through a double blind study.