[Effect of a local nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug on postoperative irritation after squint surgeries....

Topical application of a nonsteroidal antiphlogistic drug (NSAD) is often recommended to minimize postoperative lid and conjunctival edema. However, the effectiveness of such therapy remains controversial.

The study presented included 100 patients aged 23.6 +/- 19.5 (5 to 77) years, who were randomly assigned to two treatment groups. Group 1 included 50 patients who underwent squint surgery, and who received Flurbiprofen ED twice a day from the first preoperative day to the third postoperative day. Group 2 served as a control group. These patients were treated with the same regimen using artificial tears. The extent of lid and conjunctival edema was assessed and scored from 1 to 4 on the fourth postoperative day.

Squint surgery was performed on 129 eyes of 100 patients. In 32 eyes (24.8%) one muscle was operated on. In 79 eyes (61.2%) 2 muscles and in 18 eyes (14%) three muscles were operated on. The average postoperative conjunctival edema score was 2.08 +/- 0.62 (Flurbiprofen group) and 2.04 +/- 0.67 (control group), respectively. The scoring values for lid edema were 1.90 +/- 0.54 and 1.82 +/- 0.43. The differences between the two groups were not statistically significant (P = 0.21 and 0.39; Mann-Whitney test). No influence of the patient's age on the development of lid and conjunctival edema could be detected (P > 0.08). However, the number of muscles that were operated on had a significant influence on both parameters (P = 0.01 and 0.028). Single muscle operations revealed the lowest scaling values (P < 0.02 and P < 0.04). No difference was found whether 2 or 3 muscles were operated on (P = 0.24 and 0.12).

No beneficial effect of topical application of NSAD on postoperative lid and conjunctival edema could be found in this controlled study.