Preoperative Pregabalin Dosage for Postoperative Pain Management Following Spinal Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Trial

INTRODUCTION: In the field of spinal surgery, managing postoperative pain effectively is a critical concern. These surgeries are often invasive and entail extended recovery periods. Thus, finding the right approach to pain control a crucial area of research. Pregabalin, a medication in the gabapentinoid class, is emerging as a promising alternative to traditional opioid-based pain relief. However, the optimal preoperative pregabalin dosage for maximum pain relief in spinal surgery patients remains a topic of ongoing research. This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of different preoperative pregabalin doses in alleviating postoperative pain following spinal surgery, potentially offering insights to improve the postoperative experience for these patients. METHODOLOGY: This trial was conducted at Fauji Foundation Hospital Rawalpindi and included 80 patients aged 20-65 undergoing elective spinal surgery. Patients were divided into two groups: Group A received 75mg of oral pregabalin, while Group B received 150mg, one hour before surgery. Various parameters, including age, weight, height, BMI, surgery duration, gender, and ASA status, were recorded. Postoperative pain was assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) at 4 hours. RESULTS: Patients receiving 150mg of pregabalin had significantly lower postoperative pain scores (mean VAS 3.23) compared to those receiving 75mg (mean VAS 7.45). Stratification showed this difference was significant for both shorter and longer surgeries. CONCLUSION: Preoperative pregabalin 150 mg is more effective in reducing postoperative pain after spinal surgery compared to 75mg.