A recent systematic review and meta-analysis published in BMC Anesthesiology (2025) evaluated the true impact of gabapentinoids—gabapentin and pregabalin—on postoperative outcomes in orthopedic surgeries. Across 14 randomized controlled trials, these agents showed statistically significant reductions in 24-hour postoperative pain scores and modest opioid-sparing effects. However, the observed pain reduction (WMD –0.57) did not meet the minimal clinically important difference, raising questions about its real-world relevance.
While nausea risk decreased, dizziness increased, underscoring the trade-off profile that anesthesiologists must consider. Overall, the findings suggest that gabapentinoids offer measurable but clinically limited benefits when used as standalone analgesics in orthopedic settings. To explore the full evidence behind perioperative gabapentinoid use, read the…
