Analgesic Effects of Ibuprofen Soft and Flexible Absorbent Foam Dressing After Colorectal Surgery: A Single-Center Comparative Study

Postoperative wound care and pain management are crucial components of the postoperative recovery process. This study aims to evaluate whether the analgesic effects of the ibuprofen soft and flexible absorbent foam dressing are superior to those of traditional gauze following colorectal surgery. Data pertaining to patients who underwent colorectal surgery between May 2021 and January 2022 were extracted from the electronic medical records database archive of a single institution. The ibuprofen soft and flexible absorbent foam dressing was applied to 62 patients for postoperative wound care, while gauze was used for 78 patients. Primary outcome measurements included the count of dressings, visual analog scale pain scores, analgesic dosage, complications, and length of hospitalization. The mean pain score on the 5th day postoperation was significantly lower for the ibuprofen group (2.03 ± 1.55) than for the control group (2.63 ± 1.72, p = 0.035). The mean dosage (mg) of parecoxib on the 3rd day postoperation was significantly lower for the ibuprofen group (2.58 ± 12.27) than for the control group (10.26 ± 21.80, p = 0.01). The cumulative number of dressing changes during the 1st week postoperation was significantly lower for the ibuprofen group (mean ± standard deviation; 3.00 ± 0.98) than for the control group (7.55 ± 2.68, p < 0.001). No significant differences were observed in the complication rate or length of hospitalization between the groups. The ibuprofen soft and flexible absorbent foam dressing can either enhance the analgesic effect during postoperative recovery or reduce the cost and dressing time associated with postoperative wound care.