Background:
The effects of perioperative nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) on
soft tissue healing in humans have yet to be established.
Purpose:
To systematically review the literature addressing the effects of
perioperative NSAID administration on soft tissue healing and clinical
patient outcomes.
Study Design:
Systematic review; Level of evidence, 3.
Methods:
This review study was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA (Preferred
Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) statement. A
review of the literature regarding the existing evidence for clinical
effects of NSAID use on soft tissue healing was performed through use of the
Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, the Cochrane Central Register of
Controlled Trials, PubMed (1980 to present), and MEDLINE. Inclusion criteria
for articles were as follows: outcome studies after soft tissue (ligament,
meniscus, tendon, muscle) healing after surgical procedure with
perioperative NSAID administration, at least 1 year of follow-up, English
language, and human participants.
Results:
A total of 466 studies were initially retrieved, with 4 studies satisfying
all inclusion criteria. Among the surgical procedures reported, 93% of the
patients (4144/4451) underwent anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)
reconstruction, 3% (120/4451) underwent rotator cuff repair, 3% (155/4451)
underwent Bankart shoulder repair, and 1% (32/4451) underwent meniscal
repair. The reported surgical failure rate among patients administered
NSAIDs was 3.6% (157/4360). The reported surgical failure rate among control
participants not given NSAIDs was 3.7% (147/3996). NSAID use showed no
statistically significant effect on need for reoperation in meniscal repair
(
P
= .99), ACL reconstruction (
P
=
.8), and Bankart repair (
P
= .8) compared with no NSAID
administration. Celecoxib administration had a significantly higher rate of
retear (37%) after rotator cuff repair compared with ibuprofen (7%)
(
P
= .009).
Conclusion:
Insufficient data are available to definitively state the effects of
perioperative NSAIDs on soft tissue healing. Use of NSAIDs should be
considered on a case-by-case basis and may not affect healing rates
following either meniscal, ACL, rotator cuff, or Bankart repair. However,
celecoxib (a selective COX-2 inhibitor) may inhibit tendon-to-bone healing
in rotator cuff repair. Further research through clinical trials is required
to fully determine whether NSAIDs have an adverse effect on soft tissue
healing.