Postoperative intravenous dexamethasone administration: a preliminary investigation.

A retrospective review was performed on 27 patients undergoing foot surgery. All patients were administered 8 mg. of dexamethasone sodium phosphate intravenously immediately after surgery. Although these patients continued to require postoperative narcotics, the amount of parenteral narcotics required was minimal. The use of systemic corticosteroids does not produce as dramatic relief of postoperative pain as does local administration. However, the potential complications, including infection, are lessened with systemic use.