Dexamethasone and Analgesic Duration After Supraclavicular Brachial Plexus Blockade
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2009-11-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Patients undergoing surgery of the hand often are treated with a nerve block in the
shoulder/neck area that provides anesthesia/numbing during surgery. Nerve blocks usually last
for a few hours after surgery and provide pain relief for this period. It may be possible to
extend the duration of anesthesia by using a steroid, which has anti-inflammtory properties.
This study will compare the duration of the nerve block when dexamethasone (steroid) is added
to the anesthetic injected around the nerve.