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Preemptive Low-dose Dexamethasone Reduces Postoperative Emesis and Pain After TKA: A Randomized Controlled Study

  • Clinical Research
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Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research®

Abstract

Background

Dexamethasone is a potent analgesic and antiemetic. However, the benefit of dexamethasone after TKA is unclear, as is the efficacy in a current multimodal regime.

Questions/purposes

We determined (1) whether the addition of dexamethasone to a protocol including ramosetron further reduces postoperative emesis compared with ramosetron alone; (2) whether it reduces postoperative pain; and (3) whether it increases the risk for wound complications in a current multimodal regime after TKA.

Methods

We randomized 269 patients undergoing TKAs to receive dexamethasone (10 mg) 1 hour before surgery and ramosetron immediately after surgery (Dexa-Ra group, n = 135), or ramosetron alone (Ra group, n = 134). We recorded the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), severity of nausea, incidence of antiemetic requirement, complete response, pain level, and opioid consumption. Patients were assessed 0 to 6, 6 to 24, 24 to 48, and 48 to 72 hours postoperatively. In addition, patients were evaluated for wound complications and periprosthetic joint infections at a minimum of 1 year after surgery.

Results

The Dexa-Ra group had a lower incidence of PONV during the entire 72-hour evaluation period and experienced less severe nausea for the first 6 hours after TKA, although not between 6 to 72 hours. Overall use of a rescue antiemetic was less frequent, and complete response was more frequent in the Dexa-Ra group. Patients in the Dexa-Ra group experienced lower pain and consumed less opioids during the 6- to 24-hour period and during the overall study period. No differences were found in wound complications between the groups, and each group had one case of periprosthetic joint infection.

Conclusions

Patients who received prophylactic dexamethasone in addition to ramosetron had reduced postoperative emesis and pain without increased risks for wound complications, compared with patients who received ramosetron alone in patients managed using a multimodal regimen after TKA.

Level of Evidence

Level I, therapeutic study. See the Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Jung-Hee Ryu MD of the Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine for anesthesia and Yeon Gwi Kang MS of Seoul National University Bundang Hospital for data collection.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Uijeongbu St. Mary’s Hospital, 271, Cheonbo-ro, Uijeongbu-si, Gyeonggi-do, Korea

    In Jun Koh MD

  2. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

    In Jun Koh MD

  3. Joint Reconstruction Center, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, 82, Gumi-ro 173 beon-gil, Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, (463-707), Korea

    Chong Bum Chang MD, Jung Ha Lee MD & Tae Kyun Kim MD

  4. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

    Chong Bum Chang MD & Tae Kyun Kim MD

  5. Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang, Hospital, Seongnam, Korea

    Young-Tae Jeon MD

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  1. In Jun Koh MD
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Correspondence to Tae Kyun Kim MD.

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Each author certifies that he or she has no commercial associations (eg, consultancies, stock ownership, equity interest patent/licensing arrangements, etc) that might pose a conflict of interest in connection with the submitted article.

Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research neither advocates nor endorses the use of any treatment, drug, or device. Readers are encouraged to always seek additional information, including FDA-approval status, of any drug or device prior to clinical use.

Each author certifies that his or her institution has approved the human protocol for this

investigation, that all investigations were conducted in conformity with ethical principles of research, and that informed consent was obtained.

This work was performed at the Joint Reconstruction Center, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam-si, Korea.

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Koh, I.J., Chang, C.B., Lee, J.H. et al. Preemptive Low-dose Dexamethasone Reduces Postoperative Emesis and Pain After TKA: A Randomized Controlled Study. Clin Orthop Relat Res 471, 3010–3020 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11999-013-3032-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11999-013-3032-5

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