Analgesic Effects of Gabapentin and Paracetamol
Condition: Hand Injuries
MeSH terms: Hand Injuries
Study type: Interventional
Phase: Phase 4

Summary: 
      This research is about the effects of drug gabapentin; which is an amino acid that is
      structurally similar to neurotransmitter GABA. It is a novel drug used for the treatment of
      postoperative pain with analgesic properties having unique mechanism of action. This study
      reviews clinical effects of this agent in hand injury patients managed at the Department of
      Plastics & Reconstructive Surgery, Dow University of Health Sciences & Dr. Ruth KM Pfau Civil
      Hospital Karachi.

      This study aims to inquire the analgesic properties of gabapentin in the patients and to
      further investigate its comparison with the equivalent dose of paracetamol given 6 hours
      after undergoing operative procedure. Acetaminophen is well tolerated when administered in
      therapeutic dose for pain management. It is a principal drug used as pain reliever and as an
      antipyretic regimen.

      This is an experimental study in which a pre-coded questionnaire would be approved in the
      research for appraising the intensity of pain after intervening operative procedure using
      visual analogue scale, measuring the pain intensity from 0-10. The questions regarding pain
      intensity will be inquired after administrating the drug six hours postoperatively. The drug
      will be prescribed by the doctor on duty having no knowledge regarding the given drug or the
      group in which he/she is administrating the drug; further questionnaire will be filled by the
      two co-investigators who will be trained by principal investigator, how to take correct
      information.

      Sample size was calculated using www.openepi.com using the previous literature searches of
      similar research and 50 patients (25 in each group) will be randomly selected from the ward
      of a known case of hand injury. Group A patients will receive 600 mg of gabapentin post
      operatively while group B will receive 1 g of paracetamol for management of pain
      postoperatively orally.
    

Detailed description: 
      Gabapentin is an anti-convulsion medication and has a high affinity for voltage-gated calcium
      channel throughout the brain, acts by inhibition of release of excitatory neurotransmitters.
      As a lipophilic substance, it shows linear pharmacokinetics and has oral bioavailability
      greater than 90%. Gabapentin is used in a variety of condition as a therapeutic measure
      involving diabetic neuropathy, post-herpetic neuralgia, in partial seizures, restless leg
      syndrome, post-menopausal hot flashes, anxiety, resistant mood disorders, essential tremors,
      and numerous other modalities. Gabapentin is a muscle relaxant and anti-spasmodic, its
      analgesic effect has also be identified for moderate to severe pain.
    

Intervention name(s): Gabapentin 600 mg Tab
Intervention type(s): Drug
Intervention description(s): Gabapentin 600 mg Tab is a drug of choice for treating postoperative pain.
Other intervention name(s): Neurontin
Intervention MeSH terms: Gabapentin
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Intervention model description: A total of 50 patients who fulfill the inclusion criteria will be approached and written consent will be signed by the participants prior to the interview. Participants will be divided into two groups divided equally i.e. gabapentin group and paracetamol group. Gabapentin group received 600 mg dose while the control/other group received 1 gram (1000 mg) of paracetamol as a postoperative analgesic agent.
Masking: Double (Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Primary purpose: Supportive Care