title: Effect of Intraoperative Dexamethasone on Pain Scores and Narcotic Consumption in Patients Undergoing Total Knee Arthroplasty.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine whether the addition of intravenous dexamethasone during total knee arthroplasty (TKA) would be effective at reducing postoperative pain scores and postoperative opioid consumption.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 102 patients undergoing TKA were placed into two groups: 55 subjects received intraoperative dexamethasone 8 mg intravenously (treatment group) and 47 did not receive dexamethasone at any time during the perioperative period. Comparison was made using the 0-10 numeric pain rating scale and the amount of opioids used in each group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients who received dexamethasone required significantly less oral opioids compared to the control group. Pain scores at 24 h post-surgery were significantly less for the dexamethasone group compared to the control group. There was no difference between groups in regards to patient-controlled analgesic dose or pain scores in the post-anesthesia care unit, at 12 or 48 h post-surgery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A single dose of dexamethasone given intraoperatively significantly decreased oral narcotic consumption and decreased pain scores 24 h postoperatively. Dexamethasone appears to be a safe modality to use to control pain in patients undergoing TKA.
authors.affiliation: Hurley Medical Center Master of Anesthesia Program, University of Michigan-Flint, Flint, Michigan, USA.|Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hurley Medical Center, Flint, Michigan, USA.
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Samona
authors.affiliation: Hurley Medical Center Master of Anesthesia Program, University of Michigan-Flint, Flint, Michigan, USA.|Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hurley Medical Center, Flint, Michigan, USA.
authors.forename: Carrie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cook
authors.affiliation: Hurley Medical Center Master of Anesthesia Program, University of Michigan-Flint, Flint, Michigan, USA.|Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hurley Medical Center, Flint, Michigan, USA.
authors.forename: Kyle
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Krupa
authors.affiliation: Hurley Medical Center Master of Anesthesia Program, University of Michigan-Flint, Flint, Michigan, USA.|Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hurley Medical Center, Flint, Michigan, USA.
authors.forename: Krystle
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Swatsell
authors.affiliation: Hurley Medical Center Master of Anesthesia Program, University of Michigan-Flint, Flint, Michigan, USA.|Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hurley Medical Center, Flint, Michigan, USA.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.affiliation: Hurley Medical Center Master of Anesthesia Program, University of Michigan-Flint, Flint, Michigan, USA.|Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hurley Medical Center, Flint, Michigan, USA.
authors.forename: Chase
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dukes
authors.affiliation: Hurley Medical Center Master of Anesthesia Program, University of Michigan-Flint, Flint, Michigan, USA.|Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hurley Medical Center, Flint, Michigan, USA.
authors.forename: Sidney
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Martin
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000368:Aged; D016058:Analgesia, Patient-Controlled / Q000379:methods; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007430:Intraoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D003907:Dexamethasone
keywords: Dexamethasone; Pain; Total knee arthroplasty