OBJECTIVE: To examine whether the addition of intravenous dexamethasone during total knee arthroplasty (TKA) would be effective at reducing postoperative pain scores and postoperative opioid consumption. METHODS: A total of 102 patients undergoing TKA were placed into two groups: 55 subjects received intraoperative dexamethasone 8 mg intravenously (treatment group) and 47 did not receive dexamethasone at any time during the perioperative period. Comparison was made using the 0-10 numeric pain rating scale and the amount of opioids used in each group. RESULTS: Patients who received dexamethasone required significantly less oral opioids compared to the control group. Pain scores at 24 h post-surgery were significantly less for the dexamethasone group compared to the control group. There was no difference between groups in regards to patient-controlled analgesic dose or pain scores in the post-anesthesia care unit, at 12 or 48 h post-surgery. CONCLUSION: A single dose of dexamethasone given intraoperatively significantly decreased oral narcotic consumption and decreased pain scores 24 h postoperatively. Dexamethasone appears to be a safe modality to use to control pain in patients undergoing TKA.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVE: To examine whether the addition of intravenous dexamethasone during total knee arthroplasty (TKA) would be effective at reducing postoperative pain scores and postoperative opioid consumption. METHODS: A total of 102 patients undergoing TKA were placed into two groups: 55 subjects received intraoperative dexamethasone 8 mg intravenously (treatment group) and 47 did not receive dexamethasone at any time during the perioperative period. Comparison was made using the 0-10 numeric pain rating scale and the amount of opioids used in each group. RESULTS:Patients who received dexamethasone required significantly less oral opioids compared to the control group. Pain scores at 24 h post-surgery were significantly less for the dexamethasone group compared to the control group. There was no difference between groups in regards to patient-controlled analgesic dose or pain scores in the post-anesthesia care unit, at 12 or 48 h post-surgery. CONCLUSION: A single dose of dexamethasone given intraoperatively significantly decreased oral narcotic consumption and decreased pain scores 24 h postoperatively. Dexamethasone appears to be a safe modality to use to control pain in patients undergoing TKA.
Authors: C Peterson; T J Hursti; S Börjeson; E Avall-Lundqvist; M Fredrikson; C J Fürst; H Lomberg; G Steineck Journal: Support Care Cancer Date: 1996-11 Impact factor: 3.603
Authors: Glenn S Murphy; Joseph W Szokol; Steven B Greenberg; Michael J Avram; Jeffery S Vender; Margarita Nisman; Jessica Vaughn Journal: Anesthesiology Date: 2011-04 Impact factor: 7.892