Effects of Cox2-Inhibitors on the Rehabilitation of the Arthroscopic Reconstruction of the Anterior Cruciate Ligament

Arthroscopic reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament is one the most common orthopaedic surgeries. There are scattered reports about the beneficial effects of post operative cox2-inhibitors administration on knee motion. The purpose of the current study was to determine the effects of cox-2 inhibitor on pain range of motion and weight bearing after arthroscopic reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament. In this clinical trial 70 patients who underwent arthroscopic reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament were assessed in a teaching hospital in Tehran-Iran. They were divided into case (cox2-inhibitor) and control groups. Postoperatively pain inflammation range of motion and ability for full weight bearing were measured. The mean of pain at the postoperative day 3 was 5.3±1.04 (visual analogs scale of 0 to 10) in the control and 3.3±0.71 in the case group. 29.6% of the patients in the control group and 82.8% in the case group were able to flex the knee more than 90° one week postoperatively. In the first week all of the patients in the case group and only 28.6% in the control group were able to walk without any assistive device. The post operative knee circumstances were 2.73±0.59 and l.61±0.92 centimeters smaller respectively in case and control groups. Statistical analysis showed significant differences between the two groups in the above measurements. Cox-2 inhibitor is effective in relieving pain; reducing the inflammation and accelerating the rehabilitation program after arthroscopic reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament.