Objective To evaluate the analgesic effect of intra-articular ropivacaine with lidocaine. Methods A double-blind randomized controlled trial was conducted. Ninety patients receiving selective knee arthroscopy were randomized into three groups of 30 patients. At the end of the operation, before the release of the tourniquet, an intra-articular injection was administered to each patient through arthroscope, in accordance with their random allocation: 0.9% normal saline (normal saline group); 100 mg ropivacaine (ropivacaine alone group) and 100 mg ropivacaine and 100 mg 2% lidocaine (ropivacaine with lidocaine group). Pain intensity was assessed after the operation using the 100-mm visual-analog scale (VAS), and the amount of supplemental analgesics used within the following 24 hours were recorded. Results The VAS scores of 2 hours postoperatively at rest, and 1, 2, 4, and 8 hours postoperatively at motion, were significantly higher in the normal saline group than in ropivacaine alone group (Plt;0.05). The VAS scores 0.5, 1 and 2 hours postoperatively at rest, and at the awaking moment, 0.5, 1, 4, 8, and 24 hours postoperatively at motion, were significantly higher in the normal saline group than in ropivacaine with lidocaine group (Plt;0.05). Conclusion Intra-articular ropivacaine can reduce a patient’s pain after operation. The combination of lidocaine with intra-articular ropivacaine can reduce the patient’s pain severity immediately after the operation and achieve an early analgesic effect.
Objective To compare scar and incision satisfaction between Prolene polypropylene suture and conventional silk suture for dermal suture in high ligation and stripping of primary great saphenous varicose vein. Methods A total of 83 patients who met the inclusion criteria were admitted in the West China Hospital, including 27 males and 56 females. The average age was 46.7 years old, ranging from 30 to 63 years old. Forty-two patients were grade C2 and 41 were grade C3 according to the CEAP grading. Patients were divided into a polypropylene suture group (even number,n=45) and a silk suture group (odd number,n=38) according to admission date order. Prolene 5-0 polypropylene suture was used for dermal suture in the patients of the polypropylene suture group and 1# silk suture in the patients of the silk suture group. The pigments of incision area and suture area and their widths, and the points of Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale score (POSAS) and patient and observer satisfaction score of incision were observed on month 6 for following-up. Results ① The gender, age, body mass index, and proportion of C2 of the CEAP grading or smoking had no significant difference between these two groups (P>0.05). ② All the operations were successful and all the patients were followed up. All the incisions healed well and had no infection. There was a few subcutaneous hematoma in one incisionof the 2 patients on day 3 after operation in the two groups, which markedly improved after dressing treatment. The sutures of all the patients were removed on day 14 after operation. ③ The pigment of incision area and its width, and the points of POSAS had no significant differences between the two groups (P>0.05). The pigment of suture area and its width, and the points of patient and observer satisfaction score of the incision in the polypropylene suture group were significantly better than those in the silk suture group (P<0.05). Conclusion Prolene polypropylene suture is preference to conventional silk suture in aesthetic results and patient satisfaction for dermal suture of great saphenous varicose vein surgery.