Multiple Doses of Perioperative Dexamethasone Further Improve Clinical Outcomes After Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Prospective, Randomized, Controlled Study

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the effect and safety of multiple doses of preoperative dexamethasone on pain and recovery after total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

Methods: Altogether, 182 patients undergoing TKA received 3 intravenous injections of normal saline (group A), 1 injection of high-dose dexamethasone (20 mg) and 2 injections of normal saline (group B), or 1 injection of high-dose dexamethasone and 2 injections of low-dose (10 mg) dexamethasone (group C).

Results: Visual analog scale was lower in group C than in group A or B and was different between groups A and B on postoperative days 1, 2, and 3 (all P < .05). Fewer group C patients required analgesic rescue and had lower total analgesic than those in group A or B, with the same difference between groups A and B (all P < .05). C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 levels were lower in groups B and C than in group A at 24, 48, and 72 hours postoperatively. C-reactive protein at 72 hours and interleukin-6 at 48 and 72 hours were lower in group C than in group B (all P < .05). Incidences of postoperative nausea and vomiting, number of patients requiring antiemetic rescue, and overall consumption of metoclopramide were lower in groups B and C than in group A (all P < .05). No surgical-site infections or gastrointestinal hemorrhages were detected in any group.

Conclusion: Multiple dexamethasone doses further reduced postoperative pain, decreased consumption of analgesic drugs, and provided more powered inflammation control. These findings call for further studies to further evaluate its safety.

Keywords: dexamethasone; effect; randomized controlled trial; safety; total knee arthroplasty.