Effect of IV Meloxicam on Pain and Narcotic Usage as Compared to Oral Celecoxib Following Orthopedic Surgery

Patients receiving total knee arthroplasty surgery received either IV Meloxicam or Oral Celecoxib based on the hospital where they were treated. Otherwise, the operation and post-surgical pain protocol were kept as identical as possible. Surveys were administered at 24, 48, and 72 hours after surgery where patients reported their current pain level, and cumulative number or narcotic pain pills taken since surgery. Results showed a trend at each measured time interval for those receiving IV Meloxicam to report lower pain scores and less narcotic usage on average. Only the pain score difference reported at 72 hours was statistically significant. Due to limited number of study participants, further testing would be needed to determine if other observed differences would become statistically significant.