Dexamethasone and Pain Following Total Knee Arthroplasty
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2016-07-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
The purpose of the study is three fold. First to determine the ideal dose of dexamethasone
intraoperatively that will reduce acute pain and opioid consumption. Second determine if
dexamethasone at the time of surgery reduces chronic pain following total knee arthroplasty
and finally determine if a pro-inflammatory environment makes patients susceptible to chronic
pain after surgery and can dexamethasone alter this environment. Patients undergoing total
knee arthroplasty will be randomized to four groups ( 0mg, 6mg, 12mg and 24mg dexamethasone)
and assessments will be made of acute and chronic pain and quality of life measures. Blood
samples will be drawn to assess Interleukin levels and for Macrophage sorting. For the
primary efficacy endpoint of reduction of opioid consumption over 24 hours after surgery the
dexamethasone regimen group will be compared to standard of care group using t-test. For
comparisons of the secondary efficacy endpoints, t-test, Chi-square test and Fisher's Exact
test will be used. Risks of this study include the risks of venipuncture and intravenous
dexamethasone administration.