Evaluating Pain Management Strategies for Patients Undergoing Mohs Micrographic Surgery
This phase IV trial compares three pain management strategies (lower dose meloxicam with acetaminophen versus higher dose meloxicam with acetaminophen versus acetaminophen with ibuprofen) for controlling pain in patients undergoing Mohs micrographic surgery. Mohs micrographic surgery is a microscope-guided tissue-sparing surgical procedure for the removal of certain skin cancers. It is the most cost-effective form of skin cancer removal and has higher cure rates when compared to standard excision. Despite the safety and tolerability of the procedure, pain is the most common postoperative patient concern. Standard of care postoperative pain control for Mohs micrographic surgery involves alternating acetaminophen with ibuprofen. Acetaminophen is an analgesic medication used to reduce pain and fever. Ibuprofen is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug used to reduce pain, fever, swelling, and inflammation. Meloxicam is also a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. It has been found to be as effective as other similar drugs, but with fewer side effects, and with a longer persistence in the body. Compared to standard postoperative pain control with acetaminophen and ibuprofen, using meloxicam with acetaminophen may be a more effective option for reducing pain after Mohs micrographic surgery while also resulting in fewer side effects.