Effect of Dexamethasone Dose and Route on Duration of Interscalene Block After Outpatient Shoulder Surgery
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2017-01-12
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
In this factorial design study, 280 participants having outpatient, arthroscopic shoulder
surgery will be randomized into 4 equal sized groups. All participants will receive a
standardized interscalene brachial plexus block and 4mg or 8mg of dexamethasone given by the
intravenous or perineural (by the nerve with the nerve block) route just prior to their
surgery. The purpose of this study is to determine which dose and route of dexamethasone
provides the longest duration of pain control and the fewest side effects after surgery. The
investigators hypothesize that giving dexamethasone by the perineural route, and by higher
doses, will result in the longer durations of pain control, without increased side effects.