Analgesic Effects of Gabapentin After Scoliosis Surgery in Children
Analgesic Effects of Gabapentin After Scoliosis Surgery in Children
The primary aim of this study is to determine whether the use of gabapentin will improve
 postoperative analgesia and reduce opioid consumption and side effects in children undergoing
 corrective spinal surgery for idiopathic scoliosis. Secondary aims are to evaluate whether
 use of gabapentin reduces pain scores, decreases postoperative nausea and vomiting, decreases
 persisting pain and improves patient satisfaction.
Surgical correction of scoliosis involves major orthopedic surgery, and can lead to severe
 acute postoperative pain and persistent neuropathic pain. The mainstays of treating
 postoperative pain are acetaminophen, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs),
 systemic opioids, and local anesthetic techniques. Despite being effective, their use is
 limited by adverse side effects. Acute postoperative pain involves multiple mechanisms and
 neural pathways, therefore a combination of different analgestic medications acting through
 different mechanisms, may be the most effective treatment. This strategy may also reduce the
 need for, and side effects of, using high doses of any one particular class of drugs.

 Gabapentin is safe and well tolerated with few side effects and has minimal interactions with
 other drugs. The use of gabapentin to treat acute postoperative pain may improve quality of
 analgesia, result in decreased requirements for opioids and might consequently reduce the
 incidence of opioid induced side effects. It may also have a direct effect on postoperative
 nausea and vomiting, and decrease the incidence of persistent neuropathic pain. These
 qualities make gabapentin an attractive agent for use in management of postoperative pain in
 children undergoing corrective spinal injury.

 The primary aim of this study is to determine whether the use of gabapentin will improve
 postoperative analgesia and reduce opioid consumption and side effects in children undergoing
 corrective spinal surgery for idiopathic scoliosis. Secondary aims are to evaluate whether
 use of gabapentin reduces pain scores, decreases postoperative nausea and vomiting, decreases
 persisting pain and improves patient satisfaction.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  10 - 17 years of age

 -  scheduled for elective surgical correction of scoliosis

 -  able to operate a patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) pump

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  unable to cooperate

 -  unable to operate the PCA pump

 -  unable to rate pain

 -  have a known allergy or sensitivity to gabapentin or morphine

 -  have a history of chronic pain or daily analgesic use

 -  have taken acetaminophen, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, or an antacid within
 a 24-hour period prior to surgery