title: Analgesic Effect of Perioperative Systemic Dexamethasone on Blowout Fracture Surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To clarify the effect of systemic dexamethasone (DXM) on pain and postoperative opioid (oxycodone) consumption after blowout fracture surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective randomized observer-blinded trial of 20 patients who had a blowout fracture requiring surgical intervention was conducted. Patients were randomly assigned to receive a total dose of intravenous DXM 30 mg perioperatively or no DXM (controls). Pain was assessed postoperatively using a 10-cm visual analog scale (VAS) each time analgesics (acetaminophen every 6 hours or oxycodone upon request) were administered. The VAS area under the curve (VAS AUC) for 24 hours postoperatively represented the outcome. Data were analyzed using χ2test, Student t test, 2-tailed Mann-Whitney U test, and linear regression, with a P value less than .05 indicating significance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients with blowout fracture receiving perioperative systemic DXM exhibited a significantly lower average VAS AUC (P = .04). After controlling for other confounding variables, this result remained significant (P = .03).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  DXM appears to decrease postoperative pain and thus is recommended as a pre-emptive analgesic in blowout fracture surgery.
authors: Resident, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland. Electronic address: eeva.kormi@hus.fi.
authors: Eeva
authors: E
authors: Kormi
authors: Resident, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
authors: Johanna
authors: J
authors: Snäll
authors: Head of Department, Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
authors: Anna-Maria
authors: AM
authors: Koivusalo
authors: Professor of Oral Health Care and Head of Institute of Dentistry, Institute of Dentistry, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.
authors: Anna Liisa
authors: AL
authors: Suominen
authors: Consultant and Senior Lecturer, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
authors: Hanna
authors: H
authors: Thorén
authors: Head of Department, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
authors: Jyrki
authors: J
authors: Törnwall
mesh_terms: D000082:Acetaminophen / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009917:Orbital Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D010098:Oxycodone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000082:Acetaminophen; D003907:Dexamethasone; D010098:Oxycodone