NSAIDs for Pain After Ankle Fracture Surgery

The purpose of this study is to investigate if it is possible to decrease opioid consumption in patients undergoing ankle fracture surgery by providing scheduled doses of nonsteroidal inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). This is a prospective, randomized, double-blinded, placebo controlled study with two groups of patients: one getting NSAIDs to take at regularly scheduled times plus a traditional prescription for opioid medication and one receiving the traditional prescription for opioid medication and a placebo. Patients will be assigned to a group from a computer-generated program. Neither the patients nor their doctors or nurses will know what group they are in, only the pharmacist will have that information. Patients in both groups will have the opportunity to take opioid medications if the pain becomes unmanageable.