Lack of efficacy of intra‐articular opioids for analgesia after day‐case arthroscopy

Summary A randomised double‐blind placebo‐controlled trial was undertaken to assess the analgesic efficacy of intra‐articular opioids following arthroscopy of the knee. At the completion of surgery, patients received an intra‐articular injection of: morphine 1 mg, buprenorphine 30 μg or 0.9% saline. There were no differences in pain scores among groups for the first 24 h postoperatively. We have found no clinical evidence for a peripherally‐mediated opioid analgesic effect.