Dexamethasone may help reduce post total knee arthroplasty morphine requirement, study finds

Denmark: In a new study conducted by Kasper Smidt Gasbjerg and team, it was found that two doses of dexamethasone help in reducing morphine consumption during 48 hours after total knee arthroplasty and reduced postoperative pain. The findings of this study were published in the British Medical Journal.

The procedure of total knee arthroplasty is very prevalent. More than a million treatments are performed annually around the world, and this number is predicted to rise dramatically as the world's population ages. Moderate to severe postoperative discomfort is common following the operation. As a result, the goal of this study was to look at the effects of one and two doses of intravenous dexamethasone in patients who had total knee arthroplasty.

This was a randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled trial with a 90-day follow-up period. This study took place in five Danish hospitals from September 2018 to March 2020. researchers received and analyzed data from 485 adult individuals who had total knee arthroplasty. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three groups using a computer-generated randomized sequence stratified by site: DX1 (dexamethasone (24 mg)+placebo); DX2 (dexamethasone (24 mg)+dexamethasone (24 mg)); or placebo (placebo + placebo). Preoperatively and after 24 hours, the intervention was provided. The investigators, participants, and outcome assessors were all blinded. Paracetamol, ibuprofen, and local infiltration analgesia were given to all of the subjects.