Effect of Low Dose Corticosteroids on Perioperative Markers of Thrombosis and Fibrinolysis in Total Knee Arthroplasty

Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS)

Status and phase

Completed

Phase 4

Conditions

Total Knee Arthroplasty

Treatments

Drug: Placebo

Drug: Hydrocortisone

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

Other

Identifiers

NCT01815918

2012-054

Details and patient eligibility

About

One postoperative complication following unilateral or bilateral total knee arthroplasty is thrombosis (blood clot formation). In this prospective, double-blinded randomized controlled clinical trial, researchers are investigating the effect of steroids on biochemical markers of thrombosis. Furthermore, elevated cellular markers of thrombosis (specifically IL-6) have been linked to postoperative depression following total knee arthroplasty surgery. Hence the investigators are also checking if use of hydrocortisone, a steroid, may help reduce the incidence of postoperative depression.

Other studies have shown that surgery causes some reaction in the body that is consistent with inflammation. When the inflammation is extensive, it may affect different parts of the body. It may also lead to clotting disorders and result in blood clots. In a previous study by this principal investigator (see reference 22, "Use of low-dose steroids in decreasing cytokine release during bilateral total knee arthroplasty"), hydrocortisone was administered over 24 hours following surgery to patients who underwent bilateral total knee arthroplasty. The investigator found lower levels of cellular markers consistent with inflammation (specifically the protein, IL-6). Steroid use also showed additional benefits, such as decreased pain and better range of motion at the knee.

In this study, investigators recruit patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty surgery. Patients are randomized to receive three 100 mg doses of hydrocortisone or three doses of a saline placebo. In addition to analyzing patients' blood samples for hydrocortisone's effect on clotting factors (i.e. IL-6), investigators record patients' pain scores and patients' oral analgesic use. To assess patients' well-being, patients are contacted one month and 3 months following their surgeries and administered the Patient Health Questionnaire (see reference 23, "The PHQ-9: validity of a brief depression severity measure.") arthroplasty.

Enrollment

60 patients

Sex

All

Ages

50 to 90 years old

Volunteers

No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

All patients undergoing unilateral or bilateral total knee replacement
Age 50-90

Exclusion criteria

All patients on steroid therapy regardless of dose or duration of treatment or those requiring stress-dose steroids preoperatively
Patients who are smokers
Patients under 50 years of age
Patients over 90 years of age
Patients with diabetes
Patients with a prior history of corticosteroid intolerance
Patients with previous complications of steroid use