Effects of Perioperative Intravenous Dexamethasone on Pain in Out Patient Knee Surgery

Beth Israel Lahey Health

Status and phase: Terminated; Phase 4

Conditions: Nausea; Post Operative Pain

Treatments: Drug: placebo; Drug: Dexamethasone 8mg iv x1

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT01149616

2009P000345

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of the study is to determine the opiate sparing effects of intravenously administered dexamethasone in outpatient knee surgery. Dexamethasone is a glucocorticoid with well known antiemetic effects. However, the analgesic effects of dexamethasone have not been adequately researched. Following surgery, patients are typically discharged home with PO opiates to manage post-operative pain. The investigators believe that by using VAS (Visual Analog Scale) for Pain the investigators can show that a single dose of dexamethasone can reduce pain scales and opiate consumption post-operatively, on Post Operative Day (POD 1) when compared to placebo.

Full description

Findings of Modest improvement in pain scores and postoperative nausea at 24 hours with Dexamethasone

Enrollment: 82 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 65 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Adult patients undergoing ambulatory knee arthroscopy surgery
• Must provide phone contact number and agree to phone followup on post operative day 1

Exclusion criteria

• Patients with major systemic disease
• Allergy or intolerance to study drug

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Quadruple Blind

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82 participants in 2 patient groups, including a placebo group

Intervention

Active Comparator group

Description:

Dexamethasone 8mg iv x 1

Treatment:

Drug: Dexamethasone 8mg iv x1

Placebo

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

placebo

Treatment:

Drug: placebo