Canadian journal of physiology and pharmacology
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Can. J. Physiol. Pharmacol. · Jul 2004
Comparative StudyThe effects of ketorolac and morphine on articular cartilage and synovium in the rabbit knee joint.
Analgesics are commonly injected intra-articularly for analgesia after arthroscopic surgery, especially of knee joints. The aim of this study was to research the effects of ketorolac and morphine on articular cartilage and synovial membrane. This study used rabbit right and left hind knee joints. ⋯ In the ketorolac and morphine groups, there were varying degrees of synovial membrane inflammatory cell infiltration and minimal, mild, or moderate synovial membrane cell hyperplasia or hypertrophy. Except for the ketorolac group at 24 h, both ketorolac and morphine groups showed more histopathological changes than controls (p < 0.05). Morphine and ketorolac both cause mild histopathological changes in rabbit knee joints, morphine causing more than ketorolac, but both of the drugs can be used intra-articularly with safety.