dexamethasone + ropivacaine (a051f8)

Dexamethasone is a synthetic glucocorticoid being evaluated as an adjuvant to the local anesthetic ropivacaine in a clinical trial conducted by Centro Hospitalar do Porto. In this specific application, the combination is administered via single-shot femoral and sciatic nerve blocks to provide postoperative analgesia for patients undergoing unilateral total knee arthroplasty. Dexamethasone is thought to prolong the duration of the nerve block through several mechanisms, including the attenuation of inflammatory mediator release, reduction of ectopic neuronal discharge, and inhibition of potassium channel-mediated discharge in nociceptive C-fibers. The trial aims to determine if this association reduces pain scores (VAS) and postoperative opioid consumption compared to local anesthetic alone.

Other names

dexamethasone-Centro Hospitalar do Porto-postoperative painPerineural DexamethasoneLocal Anesthetic ropivacaine