Preoperative Nonopioid Analgesia Reduces Postoperative Opioid Consumption After Arthroscopic Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

This systematic review demonstrated that preoperative treatment with nonopioid medications, particularly COX-2 inhibitors and gabapentin, is associated with statistically significant reductions in postoperative opioid consumption after arthroscopic surgery. Despite statistically significant findings, observed reductions in postoperative opioid consumption and VAS pain scores may not represent clinically meaningful improvements. The current available literature is highly heterogeneous, indicating the need for high-quality prospective studies to more accurately assess optimal approaches to pain management.