Use of postoperative steroids to reduce pain and inflammation.
Postoperative injection of a steroid is used by many podiatric surgeons to reduce pain and inflammation after foot surgery. The authors present a review of the literature on postoperative steroid use from many medical specialties as well as a review of wound and bone healing. The literature indicates that using a steroid is a safe and effective means to reduce postoperative pain and edema. Studies have shown steroids to delay healing, inhibit collagen synthesis, and increase the risk of postoperative infection. No author reported a delay in wound or bone healing or increased infection rate in patients in which a steroid was used. Although there is literature to support this practice, many questions remain and further investigation is needed.
Fleischli
J W
JW
William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine, Chicago, IL 62560, USA.
Adams
W R
WR
D005528:Foot / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007267:Injections; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013256:Steroids / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
D013256:Steroids