The present randomized control clinical trial compared the effect of pregabalin in reducing neuropathic pain in postoperative patients who have undergone single-level microdiscectomy for a prolapsed intervertebral lumbar disc.

The study included 84 patients who underwent either emergency or elective microdiscectomy surgery and randomized them into two equal groups (group-A: pregabalin, group-B: placebo). The intervention group received pregabalin preoperatively and postoperatively at defined times. Both groups also received routine analgesia. The study recorded the pain scores by visual analog scale (VAS) and Roland-Morris score system on a preoperative day and compared them to the scores on follow-up on postoperative day seven.

The study found pain scores to be significantly better in group-A compared to group B with similar baseline variables. Also, the mean VAS scores of pains in group-A on a postoperative day seven on follow-up showed better pain control compared to VAS pain scores in group B. Furthermore, group-A also showed significantly better Roland-Morris scores.

This study shows that using pregabalin in addition to routine analgesia gives better control of postoperative neuropathic pain in patients with single-level microdiscectomy than the patients receiving only routine analgesia. 

Baloch SR, Hashmi IA, Rafi MS, et al. Role of Pregabalin to Decrease Postoperative Pain in Microdiscectomy: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Cureus. 2021;13(1): e12870. doi:10.7759/cureus.12870