Can common anti-inflammatories replace opioids for post-surgery pain?

NCT ID NCT07500454

First seen Apr 05, 2026 · Last updated Jun 22, 2026 · Updated 16 times

Summary

This small pilot study tested whether two NSAIDs (ketorolac and diclofenac) work as well as a weak opioid (tramadol) for pain after minimally invasive surgery. Thirty adults received a single dose of one of the three drugs before surgery, and their pain levels were tracked afterward. The goal is to see if safer, non-opioid options can effectively manage acute postoperative pain.

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This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.

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Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Hospital Regional "General Ignacio Zaragoza," ISSSTE

    Mexico City, Mexico City, 09360, Mexico

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance

tramadol, ketorolac, diclofenac

What this could lead to

If NSAIDs work as well as tramadol, doctors may use them more often for post-surgery pain, reducing reliance on opioids and their side effects.

What could go wrong

This is a small pilot study with only 30 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. It also only tested single doses before surgery, not long-term use.

Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

Acute Pain Pain, Postoperative

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.