dexamethasone + celecoxib

Dexamethasone is a synthetic glucocorticoid with potent anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive properties. In a Phase 4 multicenter randomized clinical trial coordinated by the Mayo Clinic (NCT02739035), it was investigated as part of a combination regimen with celecoxib, a selective cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor, to treat postoperative stiffness (arthrofibrosis) following total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The protocol involved a single 8 mg intravenous dose of dexamethasone administered immediately prior to manipulation under anesthesia (MUA), followed by a 14-day course of oral celecoxib (200 mg daily). The treatment aimed to mitigate the inflammatory cascade and subsequent collagen deposition that leads to excessive scar tissue formation. However, study results published in 2024 demonstrated that this pharmacological adjunct did not provide significant clinical benefit in terms of range of motion or subjective outcomes compared to MUA and physical therapy alone.

Other names

dexamethasone-Mayo Clinic-stiffness following total knee arthroplastyMUA with Dexamethasone and Celecoxib