THE EFFECT OF ORAL CLONIDINE IN REDUCTION OF POSTOPERATIVE PAIN IN DISC HERNIATION SURGERY

Pain following surgery can cause physical, cognitive and emotional distress.
Clonidine is an alpha-2 agonist that has recently been used to reduce anxiety and pain and it may help
prevent postoperative discectomy complications. Our aim was to determine the efficacy and safety of
α-2 adrenergic agonists for reducing pain and complications in adults undergoing spine surgery.
Materials & Methods: In this clinical trial study, 60 patients with lumbar disc herniation were divided
into 2 groups of 30 subjects. Clonidine was administered as a dose of 0.2 mg for the intervention group,
60 minutes before the surgery and the control tablet group received placebo with 30 ml of water. Pain
levels were recorded on the basis of VAS, before surgery, and at 3, 6, 12, and 24 hours after surgery. As
well, the need for morphine at 3, 6, 12, 24 hours after surgery was recorded.
Results: Pain score in clonidine group was significantly lower than placebo group (P = 0.03).
Postoperative pain relief was significantly lower in clonidine group after 24 hours.
Clonidine reduced postoperative lumbar pain.
Conclusion: Oral clonidine had no significant effect on hemodynamic changes during operation, but
significantly reduced the pain and the need for postoperative analgesia. Our study concludes that
prophylactic α-2 adrenergic agonists can prevent discectomy pain.