Efficacy of intraarticular dexamethasone for postoperative analgesia after arthroscopic knee surgery

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: In an attempt to improve the recovery and early rehabilitation after arthroscopic knee surgery, various medications have been administered via intra-articular route to prolong the duration and improve the quality of postoperative analgesia. Among the potentially effective substances, steroids like dexamethasone could be of particular interest. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty patients undergoing elective knee arthroscopy were randomly assigned to one of the following groups containing 25 patients each. Group D patients received 8 mg (2 mL) of dexamethasone added to 18 mL of 0.25% levobupivacaine intra-articularly, (total volume 20 mL). Group L patients received 18 mL of 0.25% levobupivacaine and 2 mL of isotonic saline (20 mL in total) intra-articularly. Analgesic effect was evaluated by measuring pain intensity visual analogue scale score and duration of analgesia. RESULTS: A longer delay was observed between intra-articular injection of study medication and first requirement of supplementary analgesic in Group D (10.24 ± 2.8 hours) compared with Group L (5.48 ± 1.6 h). Total consumption of diclofenac sodium in first 24 h in postoperative period was significantly less in Group D. No significant side effects were noted. CONCLUSION: Dexamethasone, used as adjunct to levobupivacaine in patients undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery, improves the quality and prolongs the duration of postoperative analgesia.