Evaluating Pain Management Strategies In Cross-Linking Surgery: A Comparative Study

This study aims to assess the efficacy of two pain management strategies for patients undergoing cross-linking surgery. Patients were divided into two groups: Group 1 received NSAIDs and paracetamol, while Group 2 received an additional analgesic, Taragin (Oxycodone and Naloxone). The primary outcomes included pain intensity and associated symptoms, assessed at multiple postoperative time points.

A total of 16 patients were included in the study, with Group 1 and Group 2 comprising equal participants. The mean age of participants was 22.67 years (56.25% male). Pain intensity and secondary symptoms, including tearing, light sensitivity, foreign body sensation, and gastrointestinal discomfort, were evaluated using a standardized questionnaire. Measurements were recorded at 2, 6, 24, 48, and 72 hours post-surgery.

Pain intensity scores showed no statistically significant differences between Group 1 and Group 2 at any time point. At 2 hours post-surgery, the mean pain score was 7.6 in Group 1 and 6.0 in Group 2 (p = 0.43). Similar trends were observed at 6 hours (7.1 vs. 6.2, p = 0.37), 24 hours (3.7 vs. 3.2, p = 0.67), 48 hours (1.75 vs. 1.0, p = 0.43), and 72 hours (1.14 vs. 0.2, p = 0.20). Secondary symptoms, including tearing and light sensitivity, followed similar patterns, with no significant differences detected between the groups.

While Group 2 demonstrated numerically lower pain intensity and symptom scores across most time points, the differences were not statistically significant. Further research with a larger sample size is required to validate the potential benefits of multimodal analgesia in postoperative care for cross-linking surgery.