Comparison of intramuscular morphine and methadone on postoperative analgesia in patients with tibial fracture

Post-operative pain is cause of suffering in most patients and can cause a lot of problems. Analgesic effects of many narcotics have been widely studied. In this study, the effects of intramuscular morphine and methadone on postoperative analgesia in patients with tibial fracture were assessed. This case-control study was conducted on 60 patients who fractured tibia in Zahedan in1392. Sampling was performed using a randomized block design in two groups of patients were receiving intravenous intramuscular methadone and morphine. In both groups were evaluated different levels of pain and analgesic requirement. Data were analyzed by chi-square and T-test. Mean age of patients was 32.9±2.2 years. 39 patients (65%) were male and 21 patients (35%) were female. (P>0.05) the mean use of diclofenac suppository in groups receiving methadone was 1.9±0.9 and in the group with receiving morphine was 2.7±1.2. (P=0.011) the level of pain in the methadone group was lower than the morphine group at all times. (P<0.05) the mean use of scuere in the methadone group was 2.1±0.89 and in the morphine group was 2.6±0.88. (P=0.024) The study showed that administration of methadone as premedication for tibial fractures patients reduces the postoperative pain more than morphine. Therefore, premedication with methadone for opium addict patients undergoing orthopedic surgery is recommended.