Comparison of the Effect of Pethidine, Ketorolac and Ketorolac-Diazepam Combination in Reducing Pain in Patients with acute low back Pain; a Clinical Trial Study

Low back pain is one of the most common diseases in different societies of the world. About 65% to 80% of people experience low back pain during their lifetime. Low back pain is the most common cause of chronic pain syndrome, which leads to limited activity in people younger than 45 years. This study was carried out on the patients referred to the emergency department of Peymanieh hospital in 2019. The study aimed to evaluate and compare the effects of pethidine, Ketorolac, and a combination of ketorolac-diazepam on patients with acute low back pain.

In this double-blind, randomized clinical trial, 90 patients referred to the emergency department of Peymanieh Hospital in Jahrom due to acute low back pain were included in the study. Patients were randomly divided into three groups. First group 50 mg of pethidine, Second group 30 mg ketorolac and 10 mg diazepam and Third group 30 mg of Ketorolac. Blood pressure, heart rate, arterial blood oxygen saturation, and pain of patients were measured and recorded before drug injection, immediately after drug injection, and then at 5, 10, 20, 60, and 90 minutes. Pain intensity was measured and analyzed by the visual analog scale (VAS). Data analysis was performed using SPSS software version 21 and using descriptive and inferential statistical tests.

The results of the present study showed that the mean pain reduction in the pethidine group in 10 minutes (P = 0.006), 20 (P = 0.001), 60 (P = 0.001) and 90 minutes after injection (P = 0.001), respectively. Significance was greater than the ketorolac groups and the combination of ketorolac and diazepam.

The present study results indicated that pethidine is more effective in reducing acute low back pain than ketorolac-diazepam and Ketorolac. The use of pethidine in these patients seems to be a suitable alternative to other drugs used for pain control in patients with acute low back pain referred to the emergency department.