Analgesic effect of a single dose of betamethasone after ambulatory knee arthroscopy: a randomized controlled trial.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

Glucocorticoids are reported to improve postoperative analgesia. The purpose of the study was to investigate whether a preoperative, single dose of betamethasone could reduce pain after ambulatory arthroscopic knee surgery.

METHODS:

This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial including patients scheduled for knee arthroscopy. The intervention was an intravenous injection of betamethasone 8 mg or placebo. The primary outcome was pain day 1 evaluated by a verbal descriptor scale (VDS).

RESULTS:

In total, 74 patients (betamethasone = 34; placebo = 40) were randomized. One patient in each group was excluded from analysis. During activity day 1 following surgery, the proportion with no or minor pain was significantly (p = 0.030) higher in the betamethasone group (22 of 33; 67 %) compared with the placebo group (17 of 39; 44 %). At rest, the corresponding figures were 26 of 33 (79 %) for betamethasone and 24 of 39 (62 %) for placebo (p = 0.062). After 3 months of follow-up, no patient receiving betamethasone experienced adverse events while six receiving placebo did (postoperative nausea and vomiting in five and delayed wound healing in one).

CONCLUSIONS:

An analgesic benefit was seen day 1 following surgery. This indicates that betamethasone has a place in ambulatory arthroscopic knee surgery.

TRIAL REGISTRATION:

https://www.clinicaltrialsregister.eu/ (identifier 2009-014717-27).

• Authors: Jerker Segelman, Hans Järnbert Pettersson, Christer Svensén, Mona-Britt Divander, Björn Barenius, Josefin Segelman
• Journal: Journal of anesthesia (J Anesth) Vol. 30 Issue 5 Pg. 803-10 (10 2016) ISSN: 1438-8359 [Electronic] Japan
• PMID: 27370892 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)

Chemical References

• Analgesics
• Glucocorticoids
• Betamethasone

Topics

• Adult
• Analgesics (administration & dosage)
• Arthroscopy (methods)
• Betamethasone (administration & dosage)
• Double-Blind Method
• Female
• Glucocorticoids (administration & dosage)
• Humans
• Knee Joint (surgery)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Pain Measurement
• Pain, Postoperative (drug therapy)
• Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting (epidemiology)