Effect of Intraoperative Dexamethasone on Pain Scores and Narcotic Consumption in Patients Undergoing Total Knee Arthroplasty.

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.