ObjectiveTo explore the effect of dexmedetomidine-parecoxib sodium on early postoperative cognitive function in elderly patients undergoing general anesthesia. MethodsFrom August 2013 to October 2014, 120 elderly patients underwent hip replacement surgical procedures. The patients were randomly divided into four groups (with 30 patients in each group):dexmedetomidine-parecoxib sodium group (group C), dexmedetomidine group (group D), parecoxib sodium group (group P), and saline group (group S). Cognitive function was assessed preoperatively, on the first, 3rd and 7th postoperative day by using mini-mental state examination (MMSE) scale. ResultsCompared with the MMSE scores before the surgery, the scores in the four groups on the first postoperative day decreased obviously (P<0.05); the scores in group D, P, and S on the 3rd postoperative day were obviously lower than those before the surgery (P<0.05); the scores in group C on the 3rd postoperative day didn't differ much from that before the surgery (P>0.05); and the scores in group C on the first and 3rd operative day were obviously higher than those in the other 3 groups (P<0.05). The differences in MMSE scores on the 7th operative day among the 4 groups were not significant (P>0.05). After the surgery, the incidence of cognitive dysfunction in group C was significantly lower than those in the other three groups (P<0.05); the incidences of cognitive dysfunction in group D and P were obviously lower than that in group S (P<0.05) while the difference between group D and P was not significant (P>0.05). ConclusionDexmedetomidine-parecoxib sodium can decrease the incidence of early cognitive dysfunction in elderly patients undergoing hip replacement surgery, whose therapeutic effect is better than using dexmedetomidine or parecoxib sodium alone.