While some investigators found oral metronidazole to be effective in reducing pain after hemorrhoidectomy, other researchers did not find a significant analgesic effect of systemic metronidazole. On the other hand, topical application of metronidazole had more consistent favorable results as Ala et al documented a remarkable analgesic effect of topical metronidazole 10% after excisional hemorrhoidectomy which was in line with Nicholson and Armestrong who also concluded similar results. No previous study compared the analgesic effect of topical and oral metronidazole after anorectal surgery. Therefore, the present trial was conducted to compare the impact of oral versus systemic metronidazole on pain and recovery after surgery for benign anorectal conditions.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
108
Topical application of metronidazole cream on the anal verge every 8 hours after surgery
Patients received oral metronidazole 500 mg tablets every 8 hours after surgery
Mansoura university hospital
Al Mansurah, Dakahlia Governorate, Egypt
Postoperative pain score
Pain was assessed using visual analogue scale form 0 to 10, higher score indicates worse pain
Time frame: at one day after surgery
Postoperative pain score
Pain was assessed using visual analogue scale form 0 to 10, higher score indicates worse pain
Time frame: at two days after surgery
Postoperative pain score
Pain was assessed using visual analogue scale form 0 to 10, higher score indicates worse pain
Time frame: at seven days after surgery
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