Efficacy of pre-emptive use of cyclooxyenase-2 inhibitors for total knee arthroplasty: a mini-review

Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is regarded as the most effective surgery for patients with later-stage arthritis of the knee, but the postoperative pain management for functional improvement of the knew is still a challenging task. This review discusses the mechanism by which the selective cyclooxyenase-2 inhibitors, which reduce the peripheral and central sensitization, decrease pain after TKA. This review also covers the protocols, safety, efficacy, and progress of cyclooxyenase-2 inhibitors in pre-emptive analgesia.