Postoperative pain management in dogs: Efficacy of pre-emptive analgesia with lignocaine and ketamine

Abstract

The study was designed to evaluate the efficacy orcpidural lignocaine and ketumine for post-opcrative pain management in experimental tibial fracture repair in 12 adult dogs divided in 3 equal groups. After atropine sulphate and tritluproma/ine groups premedication, normal saline (2 ml), lignocaine hydrochloride (2%)(a 4 mg/kg and ketamme hydrochloride (5%)(a 3 mg/kg were given epldurally at lumbosaceral space in animals of grllups I, 2 and 3, respectively, to assess their efficacy in pain management. Anaesthesia Was induced and maintained with thiopental sodium in all the groups. Leir tibra fracture created at proximal mctaphysls was repaired with double pinning and interfragmentory Wiring. Wound hyperalgesia and swelling in animals of group I (normal saline) were significantly (p<0.05) higher than the group 3 (epidural ketamine). Tn group 2, wound hyperalgesia and swelling were lesser as compared to group 1 but higher thun group 3 Movement associated pain scores showed early weight bearing on affected limb in animals or group 3 as compared to groups 1 and 2. The results of this study suggest that epidural ketamine, if given preoperatively can pre-empt the post-operative hyperalgesia, swelling and pain. Lignocaine had only liltle beneficial effects.