- Journal List
- Sage Choice
- PMC10986151
As a library, NLM provides access to scientific literature. Inclusion in an NLM database does not imply endorsem*nt of, or agreement with, the contents by NLM or the National Institutes of Health.
Learn more: PMC Disclaimer | PMC Copyright Notice
Am J Sports Med. 2024 Apr; 52(5): 1165–1172.
Published online 2024 Mar 8. doi:10.1177/03635465241232157
PMCID: PMC10986151
PMID: 38456291
Dominik Kaiser, MD,*† Armando Hoch, MD,† Dimitris Dimitriou, MD,† Tanja Groeber, RA,† Hagen Bomberg, MD,‡ José A. Aguirre, MD,‡ Urs Eichenberger, MD,‡ and Patrick O. Zingg, MD†
Author information Article notes Copyright and License information PMC Disclaimer
Associated Data
- Supplementary Materials
Abstract
Background:
Previous studies have shown that dexamethasone has a positive effect on postoperative pain control, opioid consumption, nausea, and vomiting and length of hospital stay after arthroplasty surgery.
Purpose/Hypothesis:
The purpose of this study was to assess whether adding perioperative dexamethasone to our current pain regimen after hip arthroscopy is more effective than a placebo. It was hypothesized that dexamethasone would reduce postoperative pain, reduce opioid consumption, improve subjective pain and nausea scores, and reduce the number of vomiting events.
Study Design:
Randomized controlled trial; Level of evidence, 1.
Methods:
A total of 50 patients requiring unilateral elective hip arthroscopy were randomized to receive intravenous dexamethasone immediately before induction of anesthesia and at 8 am on the first postoperative day (2 ×12 mg) or a placebo (sodium chloride 0.9%). The patient, the surgeons, the treating anesthesiologist, and the involved nursing and physical therapy personnel were blinded to group assignment. The primary outcome was postoperative pain, and secondary outcomes were opioid consumption and nausea scores—assessed using a translated revised version of the American Pain Society Patient Outcome Questionnaire 6 hours postoperatively and on days 1 and 2—and vomiting events. A clinical follow-up was performed 12 weeks postoperatively to assess adverse events.
Results:
The mean age at inclusion was 29 years in both groups. Postoperative pain levels did not differ significantly in most instances. Opioid requirements during the hospitalization in the dexamethasone group were significantly lower than those in the placebo group (31.96 ± 20.56 mg vs 51.43 ± 38 mg; P = .014). Significantly fewer vomiting events were noted in the dexamethasone group (0.15 ± 0.59 vs 0.65 ± 0.91; P = .034). Descriptive data and surgical parameters did not differ significantly.
Conclusion:
Perioperative intravenous dexamethasone significantly reduced postoperative opioid consumption by 40% without compromising pain level and safety, as no corticosteroid-related side effects were observed. Dexamethasone may be a valuable adjuvant to a multimodal systemic pain regimen after hip arthroscopy.
Registration:
NCT04610398 (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier).
Keywords: dexamethasone, hip arthroscopy, opioid reduction, persistent postoperative opioid use, postoperative pain control
Hip arthroscopy is an increasingly common procedure and has widely replaced surgical hip dislocation because of its benefits in terms of lower complication rates and faster rehabilitation.16,27,39 The number of hip arthroscopy procedures performed has been steadily rising.11
Although postoperative rehabilitation is significantly shorter for hip arthroscopy than for the more invasive procedure of surgical hip dislocation, postoperative pain is common and clinically relevant after this “minor” intervention.31 Hip arthroscopy is performed as an inpatient and/or outpatient procedure depending on the country, and adequate postoperative pain control is of great importance. The hip joint is innervated by several different nerves, including the femoral nerve, obturator nerve, sciatic nerve, and superior gluteal nerve.6 Thus, achieving adequate postoperative pain management using nerve blocks as a basis for rapid rehabilitation is challenging.37
Many multimodal regimens exist to minimize postoperative pain, nausea, and vomiting after hip arthroscopy.31,37 Postoperative pain, nausea, and vomiting are often cited as the most common adverse events after anesthesia, with a high incidence of >80% after orthopaedic surgery, and are known to lead to lower patient satisfaction.12,15,24
Opioids are an important component in the treatment of postoperative pain despite the well-known relevant side effects of severe nausea and the risk of persistent postoperative opioid use. Surgery is associated with an elevated risk of persistent postoperative opioid use, particularly when opioid naïve patients are provided with opioid prescriptions for the posthospitalization period.1,9,10,17 Given that hip arthroscopies are primarily performed in young patients in an outpatient setting or with brief hospital stays, minimizing opioid consumption while ensuring adequate pain control is of great significance, especially given the persisting opioid crisis.22,26 With respect to prescribing opioids, orthopaedic surgeons rank fourth among subspecialists.33,35
Dexamethasone is a greatly potent long-acting glucocorticoid that has been extensively studied in perioperative settings. This synthetic glucocorticoid has minimal mineralocorticoid side effects.30 It can be administered intravenously or orally and is rapidly absorbed. Also, its strong analgesic, anti-inflammatory, euphorigenic, and prophylactic effects for nausea and vomiting have been clearly demonstrated.2,13,14,19,30 Despite these advantages, its widespread use in the perioperative setting has not yet been established, mostly because of concerns regarding possible adverse effects, especially infections. However, a large study of joint replacements did not show a higher risk of infections.36 The literature has demonstrated the advantages of administering perioperative dexamethasone with dosages ranging from 10 to 40 mg in joint arthroplasty, foot osteotomy, and spine surgery as a single dose or in 2 separate doses.2,3,13,28,29 The risks of short-term glucocorticoid therapy are low if the contraindications for the drugs are respected. Undesirable side effects are not expected, especially the typical side effects of long-term steroid therapy. The literature has demonstrated the safety and reversibility of both short-term, high-dose steroid therapy on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and the use of steroids for postoperative pain management.19,30
This compelling evidence has made us challenge our current multimodal systemic pain regimen. Our goal was to be able to reduce postoperative pain, reduce the need for opioids, and reduce postoperative nausea and vomiting in the young patient population after this variably painful procedure. We hypothesized that the addition of 2 × 12 mg intravenous (IV) dexamethasone to our current perioperative pain regimen would reduce postoperative pain and opioid consumption, improve nausea scores, reduce antiemetics consumption, and reduce the number of vomiting events.
Methods
Study Design
This study was designed as a prospective randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial with a 12-week intervention period. The study protocol and methodology were approved by the local institutional review board, and written informed consent was obtained from all study patients (KEK ZH: BASEC Nr. 2020-02131; Swiss Medic Nr. 2020-02131). The study was registered on the ClinicalTrials.gov platform (ID No. NCT04610398).
The inclusion criteria were as follows: elective isolated unilateral hip arthroscopy for any reason; age >18 years; general endotracheal anesthesia; no previous hip surgery; and competent German language skills to understand the informed consent form. The exclusion criteria were as follows: chronic lower back pain; steroid or immunosuppressive drugs used within 6 months of surgery; renal or hepatic failure; relevant allergies; pregnancy or active breastfeeding; contraindications for dexamethasone treatment (active infection, allergies); previous enrollment into the present study; known or suspected noncompliance; drug or alcohol abuse; and participation in another study with an investigational drug within the 30 days before entering the present study.
We screened 146 consecutive patients between March 2021 and June 2023. We excluded 46 patients, and 40 patients declined participation. A total of 60 patients were available for allocation using randomized cards and included in the study. After randomization and during hospitalization, 9 patients who had admitted to regularly using cannabis (n = 8) and amphetamines (n = 1) were excluded. One patient was excluded because of use of an antiretroviral medication, which was noted after randomization (Figure 1).
Figure 1.
Flowchart of patient assessment, randomization, and completion of study.
Group 1 (study group) received 12 mg of IV dexamethasone (Fortecortin; Merck) in 0.9% sodium chloride solution immediately before induction of anesthesia and 12 mg of IV dexamethasone in 0.9% sodium chloride solution on the first postoperative day at 8 am.
Group 2 served as the control group and received 0.9% sodium chloride solution without dexamethasone immediately before induction of anesthesia and on the first postoperative day at 8 am. All patients had general anesthesia with endotracheal intubation using fentanyl (analgesia), propofol (sleep and anesthesia maintenance), and rocuronium (muscle relaxation).
Dexamethasone was administered in addition to our multimodal pain regimen, which includes paracetamol (3 to 4 g per day) and diclofenac (50 mg 3 times per day for 24 hours), which was then substituted for indometacin (75 mg once daily for 14 days), morphine patient-controlled analgesia for a minimum of 24 hours or as needed, followed by an oral reserve opioid (usually oxycodone), metamizole (3 to 4 g daily), and a ketamine perfusor for breakthrough pain management, only if necessary. Postoperative nausea and vomiting were managed primarily using ondansetron, as needed. In addition, droperidol and paspertin were administered.
The patient, the surgeons (P.O.Z., A.H.), and the anesthesiologist who performed the anesthesia and was responsible for intraoperative management, the nurses, and physical therapists included in the patient care were all blinded to treatment group. The first and third authors (D.K., D.D.), who were not included in patient care, the study nurse (T.G.), and the anesthesiologists (U.E., H.B., J.A.) who prepared and injected the preoperative study medication, were not blinded.
The nurses administering the dexamethasone and/or placebo on the first postoperative day were blinded as well. The medication was prepared by the first author (D.K.); in his absence, it was prepared by the third author (D.D.), and it was personally handed over to the nurse responsible for administration. As dexamethasone is a clear liquid, it cannot be identified and distinguished from 0.9% sodium chloride solution.
Opioid consumption, as read out on the patient-controlled analgesia, as well as the medical chart, was obtained. All opioids were converted to morphine equivalents. No patients were prescribed opioids on discharge. Subjective pain and nausea/vomiting scores were collected using a questionnaire translated into German based on the Revised American Pain Society Patient Outcome Questionnaire (APS-POQ-R).7 This questionnaire was completed 6 hours after the surgery and at 8 am every following day until discharge. The completion of the questionnaire was monitored by the research assistant (T.G.) and the first author (D.K.).
In addition, antiemetics consumption, vomiting events, patient age, sex, American Society of Anesthesiology score, surgical time, hip distraction time, and length of hospital stay were obtained from the medical chart. Because of the reimbursem*nt system at our institution, a minimal hospital stay of 2 nights is required. All adverse events of the first 3 months were assessed prospectively at the outpatient follow-up.
All patients received postoperative physical therapy and were evaluated by their therapist. The achievement of the 3 postoperative milestones of walking, walking stairs, and using the stationary bicycle was obtained from the physical therapy report.
Statistical Analysis
A power analysis before the study resulted in the necessity of enrolling 25 patients per treatment group in the study. This was based on the number needed to demonstrate a significant difference in pain level,4 with a power of 80% and an alpha level of .05. Accounting for a dropout rate of 15% to 20%, ≥30 patients were necessary per group, adding up to approximately 60 patients.
There were 27 patients in the study group (dexamethasone) and 23 patients in the control group (placebo) who completed the study. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was applied to test for normal distribution. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to assess differences in continuous variables between the 2 groups, and the Fisher exact test was used for categorical variables. Statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS software (Version 29; IBM Corp). The level of significance was set at P < .05.
Results
Patient screening, allocation, and completion are presented in Figure 1.
Indications for hip arthroscopy were femoroacetabular impingement in 26 of 27 patients in the study group and 20 of 23 in the control group. A symptomatic labral tear was the indication for the remaining 4 patients—one-quarter had borderline hip dysplasia and three-quarters had anterior rim syndrome. A labral refixation with suture anchors was performed in 21 of 27 patients in the study group and 18 of 23 patients in the control group. Two senior surgeons (P.O.Z.) performed 12 and 9 hip arthroscopies, respectively. One junior surgeon (A.H.) performed 29 hip arthroscopies. The junior surgeon performed 15 of 27 hip arthroscopies in the study group and 14 of 23 hip arthroscopies in the control group.
Patient characteristics, surgical time, and distraction time are summarized in Table 1. No significant differences were noted between the 2 groups.
Table 1
Patient Characteristicsa
| Group 1 (Study Group/Dexamethasone) (n = 27) | Groups 2 (Control/Placebo) (n = 23) | P* | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age, y | 29 ± 8 (19-44) | 29 ± 7.5 (18-48) | N.S. |
| Sex, M:F, n | 16:11 | 14:9 | N.S. |
| ASA | ASA 1: n = 15 ASA 2: n = 12 | ASA 1: n = 8 ASA 2: n = 15 | N.S. |
| Surgical time, min | 107 ± 23 (76-160) | 98 ± 23 (46-135) | N.S. |
| Hip distraction time, min | 61 ± 17 (35-100) | 58 ± 16 (27-90) | N.S. |
| Length of stay, db | 3.26 ± 0.52 (3-5) | 3.35 ± 0.76 (3-6) | N.S. |
Open in a separate window
aData are presented as mean ± SD (range) unless otherwise indicated. ASA, American Society of Anesthesiologists; F, female; M, male; N.S., not significant.
bThe preoperative planned length of stay was 3 days.
*Significance level P < .05.
Intra- and postoperative medication requirements are summarized in Table 2. A significantly decreased postoperative opioid consumption until hospital discharge was seen in the study group (dexamethasone) (P = .014). Intraoperative fentanyl and propofol consumption, as well as postoperative antiemetic consumption, did not differ significantly between the 2 groups.
Table 2
Intraoperative and Postoperative Medicationa
| Group 1 (Study Group/ Dexamethasone) (n = 27) | Groups 2 (Control/ Placebo) (n = 23) | P* | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intraop fentanyl, mg | 0.86 ± 0.24 (0.5-1.3) | 0.87 ± 0.29 (0.35-0.4) | N.S. |
| Intraop propofol, mg | 1460 ± 367 (757-2096) | 1291.6 ± 487 (427-2149) | N.S. |
| Intraop propofol per minute, mg/min | 13.95 ± 3.93 (7.17-22.55) | 13.34 ± 4 (4.54-20.79) | N.S. |
| Postop opioids, morphine equivalent, mg | 31.96 ± 20.56 (0-95) | 51.43 ± 38 (15-170) | .014 |
| Postop ondansetron, mg | 3.41 ± 3.02 (0-8) | 5.043 ± 4.75 (0-12) | N.S. |
| Postop droperidol, mg | 0.093 ± 0.19 (0-0.5) | 0.21 ± 0.29 (0-1) | N.S. |
| Postop paspertin, mg | 2.85 ± 9.94 (0-50) | 1.30 ± 3.37 (0-10) | N.S. |
| Ketamine, n (%) | 4 (14) | 5 (21) | N.S. |
Open in a separate window
aData are presented as mean ± SD (range) unless otherwise indicated. Intraop, intraoperative; N.S., not significant; Postop, postoperative.
*Significance level P < .05.
Significant differences in the results of the questionnaire are summarized in Table 3. All results are depicted in Table 4. The questionnaire used is attached in the Appendix (available in the online version of this article.).
Table 3
Significant Results Between the Study and Control Groups Obtained From the Questionnairea
| Group 1 (Study Group/ Dexamethasone) (n = 27) | Group 2 (Control/ Placebo) (n = 23) | P* | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Questionnaire 2: Postop day 1 | |||
| Side effect: pruritus past 24 h | 0.79 ± 1.58 (0-6) | 2.43 ± 2.79 (0-10) | .032 |
| Side effect: fatigue past 24 h | 4.79 ± 2.91 (0-10) | 6.71 ± 2.03 (3-10) | .023 |
| Questionnaire 3: Postop day 2 | |||
| Least pain in the past 24 h | 7.7 ± 10.8 (0-30) | 18.6 ± 18.6 (0-60) | .048 |
Open in a separate window
aData are presented as mean ± SD (range). Postop, postoperative.
*Significance level P < .05.
Table 4
Results Between the Study and Control Groups Obtained From the Questionnairesa
| 6 h Postoperative | 8 AM Postoperative Day 1 | 8 AM Postoperative Day 2 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Least pain in the past 24 h | N.S. | N.S. | P = .048 |
| Worst pain in the past 24 h | N.S. | N.S. | N.S. |
| Incidence of VAS pain score >60 in the past 24 h | N.S. | N.S. | N.S. |
| Mean pain at rest | N.S. | N.S. | N.S. |
| Mean pain when walking | N.S. | N.S. | N.S. |
| Nausea in the past 24 h | N.S. | N.S. | N.S. |
| Dizziness in the past 24 h | N.S. | N.S. | N.S. |
| Pruritus in the past 24 h | N.S. | P = .032 | N.S. |
| Fatigue in the past 24 h | N.S. | P = .023 | N.S. |
| Pain relief in the past 24 h | N.S. | N.S. | N.S. |
| Satisfaction with pain treatment | N.S. | N.S. | N.S. |
| Satisfaction with nausea treatment | N.S. | N.S. | N.S. |
Open in a separate window
aN.S., nonsignificant; VAS, visual analog scale.
A significantly lower rate of pruritus (P = .032) and fatigue (P = .024) was seen in the study group on postoperative day 1, as self-assessed using the questionnaire. A significantly lower “least pain level in the past 24 hours” was seen in the study group (P = .048) on postoperative day 2 as self-assessed using the questionnaire. A significantly lower rate of vomiting events was seen in the study group over the whole hospitalization (P = .03) (Table 5). No significant differences in the time to reach physical therapy milestones were seen, as depicted in Table 5. A slight tendency to quicker rehabilitation was noted in the study group.
Table 5
Vomiting Events and Physical Therapy Milestonesa
| Group 1 (Study Group/ Dexamethasone) (n = 27) | Group 2 (Control Group/ Placebo) (n = 23) | P | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vomiting events, number | 0.15 ± 0.59 (0-3) | 0.65 ± 0.91 (0-3) | .034 |
| Milestone 1: walking, db | 0.85 ± 0.355 (0-1) | 0.91 ± 0.28 (0-1) | N.S. |
| Milestone 2: stairs, db | 1.59 ± 0.62 (1-3) | 1.74 ± 0.79 (1-4) | N.S. |
| Milestone 3: stationary bicycle, db | 1.81 ± 0.61 (1-3) | 2.13 ± 1.19 (1-6) | N.S. |
Open in a separate window
aData are presented as mean ± SD (range). The questionnaire is attached in the Appendix; only significant differences are noted.
bVisual analog scale. 0 = day of surgery; 1 = postoperative day 1; 2 = postoperative day 2, et cetera.
No adverse events associated with dexamethasone (infections, delayed wound healing, and superficial wound healing) were seen 3 months postoperatively, as summarized in Table 6.
Table 6
Adverse Events in the First 3 Months Postoperativelya
| Group 1 (Study Group/ Dexamethasone) (n = 27) | Groups 2 (Control Group/ Placebo) (n = 23) | |
|---|---|---|
| Total | 2 | 4 |
| Transient pudendal nerve neuropathy, <6 wk | 2 | 2 |
| Scrotal hematoma | 0 | 1 |
| Delayed wound healing | 0 | 1 |
| Adverse events associated with dexamethasone and/or placebo | 0 | 0 |
Open in a separate window
aData are presented as n. Full recovery in <6 weeks.
Discussion
Perioperative administration of dexamethasone significantly reduced opiate consumption after unilateral elective hip arthroscopy by almost 40%. Moreover, a significant reduction of pruritus and fatigue was seen on postoperative day 1 as assessed using the questionnaire, and a significantly lower pain score was recorded on postoperative day 2. A significant reduction in postoperative vomiting events was also noted (P = .034). This is the first randomized controlled study to report a significant beneficial effect of perioperative dexamethasone as an adjunct to a multimodal systemic pain regimen after hip arthroscopy. No side effects associated with dexamethasone were seen postoperatively in the first 3 months.
Our results are comparable with those of other studies showing positive effects of perioperative dexamethasone after orthopaedic surgery with significant reduction of postoperative opioid requirements.2,3,21,28,34,38
We did not see a significant difference in self-assessed postoperative pain levels or self-assessed nausea scores. The antiemetics consumption did not significantly differ, albeit a tendency to less ondansetron, droperidol, and metoclopramide need was noted in the study group.
The mean opioid consumption during the hospitalization in the study group was 31.96 (SD, 20.56) mg of morphine equivalents compared with 51.43 (SD, 38) mg of morphine equivalents in the control group. Despite our multimodal pain regimen, the mean maximal pain level perceived in the previous 24 hours by all patients was a visual analog scale (VAS) score of 66 (SD, 22.6) 6 hours postoperatively, a VAS of 57.5 (SD, 25.8) at 8 am on postoperative day 1, and a VAS of 37.9 (SD, 25.4) at 8 am on postoperative day 2. The large amount of >50 mg of morphine equivalents in the control group confirms the painful nature of this procedure. Ketamine was necessary more often in the control group (21%) than in the study group (14%), again potentially speaking for the analgesic potential of dexamethasone.
Uncontrolled opioids prescribed during and after surgery, as well as at hospital discharge, can increase the risk of persistent postoperative opioid use in patients; thus, it seems of great importance to minimize perioperative opioid consumption.1,8,10,20 It has also been shown that targeted postoperative regimens reducing inpatient opioid use can substantially reduce the rate of postoperative opioid refills between 180 days and 365 days in nonelective hip fracture surgeries.25
This significant reduction of opioids can be achieved without compromising subjective pain and nausea scores as assessed by the APS-POQ-R questionnaire. There was a substantial reduction in pruritus and fatigue on postoperative day 1, as well as a significantly lower least pain score on postoperative day 2. In addition to the antalgic effect of dexamethasone, this may be attributable to the antipruritic and euphoric effect of this drug. Both effects are desired in the immediate postoperative phase. The significant reduction of vomiting events is noteworthy, as dexamethasone has known antiemetic effects. However, the number of vomiting events was very small in both groups, with a mean of 0.15 (SD, 0.59) in the study group and a mean of 0.65 (0.91) in the control group. We did note a tendency to consume fewer antiemetics, albeit the differences were not significant.
Backes et al3 showed a significant reduction in length of hospital stay, which was not observed in our study. This is mainly because of the medical reimbursem*nt system in our country, which dictates a minimal length of stay of 2 nights. We have thus adjusted our postoperative regimen to distribute the focus of physical therapy to achieve 1 milestone a day. These milestones include walking on crutches, walking on stairs, and being able to mobilize the joint on a stationary bicycle. Hip arthroscopy is performed as an outpatient surgery in many countries. We are convinced that these patients would benefit from the positive effects of perioperative dexamethasone. In outpatient hip arthroscopy, dexamethasone can be prescribed and administered orally, and thus the dose of 12 mg IV dexamethasone can be readily substituted on postoperative day 1.32
The short-term use of dexamethasone is deemed safe, and a large systematic review found no evidence for adverse events.19 We noted 6 adverse events in our study (Table 6). None required an additional intervention, and none was associated with the administration of dexamethasone. Concerns for surgical-site infections regarding perioperative dexamethasone for hip arthroscopy have not yet been investigated. However, a large study did not show increased infection rates in total hip and total knee arthroplasty.36 As infection rates in hip arthroscopy are markedly lower than those in arthroplasty surgery with rates of <0.14%,18 we do not believe that the administration of dexamethasone has a relevant adverse clinical effect on surgical-site infections or wound complications after hip arthroscopy. Avascular necrosis of the femoral head is a rare complication associated with chronic glucocorticoid use. Bergeron et al5 demonstrated that preoperative administration of 40 mg of dexamethasone did not result in an increased incidence of avascular necrosis of the contralateral femoral head after a minimum follow-up of 1 year.
Several limitations need to be considered when interpreting the data of this study. A surprisingly large number of patients refused to participate in the study, although hardly any additional effort was necessary by the patient apart from filling in the questionnaire. We attribute this mostly to the bad reputation of dexamethasone in the general population, as many fear the known complications associated with long-term cortisone therapy. On the other hand, it may also be due to the general study fatigue of young patients who prefer not to deal with "unnecessary" things. Of the 60 patients who were allocated, 10 were excluded after allocation because of drug or medication use, which was not shared in the first screening. This information was shared in the preoperative anesthesiologist consultation. Patients with cannabis use were excluded, as these patients have an altered CYP3A4 metabolism. Postoperative pain and nausea management is influenced by cannabis use as well as cannabis withdrawal.23 The ratio of patients in whom the junior surgeon performed the hip arthroscopy was slightly greater in the control group (14/23 [61%]) compared with the study group (15/27 [56%]); however, surgical time and hip distraction time as more objective measures were very comparable. Power analysis was performed based on the primary endpoint of expected differences in postoperative pain levels and not based on differences in opioid consumption. However, we did not see any differences in pain levels between the 2 groups, which can reflect the good postoperative pain management at our institution.
Conclusion
Perioperative IV dexamethasone significantly reduced postoperative opioid consumption by 40% without compromising pain level and safety, as no corticosteroid-related side effects were observed. Dexamethasone may be a valuable adjuvant to a multimodal systemic pain regimen after hip arthroscopy.
Supplemental Material
sj-pdf-1-ajs-10.1177_03635465241232157 – Supplemental material for Perioperative Intravenous Dexamethasone Significantly Reduces Postoperative Opioid Requirement and Nausea After Unilateral Elective Hip Arthroscopy: A Randomized Double-blinded Placebo-controlled Trial:
Click here to view.(65K, pdf)
Supplemental material, sj-pdf-1-ajs-10.1177_03635465241232157 for Perioperative Intravenous Dexamethasone Significantly Reduces Postoperative Opioid Requirement and Nausea After Unilateral Elective Hip Arthroscopy: A Randomized Double-blinded Placebo-controlled Trial by Dominik Kaiser, Armando Hoch, Dimitris Dimitriou, Tanja Groeber, Hagen Bomberg, José A. Aguirre, Urs Eichenberger and Patrick O. Zingg in The American Journal of Sports Medicine
Footnotes
Submitted September 20, 2023; accepted December 20, 2023.
The authors declared that they have no conflicts of interest in the authorship and publication of this contribution. AOSSM checks author disclosures against the Open Payments Database (OPD). AOSSM has not conducted an independent investigation on the OPD and disclaims any liability or responsibility relating thereto.
ORCID iD: Dominik Kaiser 
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5280-2756
References
1. Alam A, Gomes T, Zheng H, Mamdani MM, Juurlink DN, Bell CM. Long-term analgesic use after low-risk surgery: a retrospective cohort study. Arch Inter Med. 2012;172(5):425-430. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
2. Aminmansour B, Khalili HA, Ahmadi J, Nourian M. Effect of high-dose intravenous dexamethasone on postlumbar discectomy pain. Spine. 2006;31(21):2415-2417. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
3. Backes JR, Bentley JC, Politi JR, Chambers BT. Dexamethasone reduces length of hospitalization and improves postoperative pain and nausea after total joint arthroplasty: a prospective, randomized controlled trial. J Arthroplasty. 2013;28(8):11-17. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
4. Baker JF, McGuire CM, Byrne DP, Hunter K, Eustace N, Mulhall KJ. Analgesic control after hip arthroscopy: a randomised, double-blinded trial comparing portal with intra-articular infiltration of bupivacaine. Hip Int. 2011;21(3):373-377. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
5. Bergeron SG, Kardash KJ, Huk OL, Zukor DJ, Antoniou J. Perioperative dexamethasone does not affect functional outcome in total hip arthroplasty. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2009;467(6):1463-1467. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
6. Birnbaum K, Prescher A, Hepler S, Heller K-D. The sensory innervation of the hip joint—an anatomical study. Surg Radiol Anat. 1998;19:371-375. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
7. Botti M, Khaw D, Jørgensen EB, Rasmussen B, Hunter S, Redley B. Cross-cultural examination of the structure of the Revised American Pain Society Patient Outcome Questionnaire (APS-POQ-R). J Pain. 2015;16(8):727-740. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
8. Brown CR, Chen Z, Khurshan F, Groeneveld PW, Desai ND. Development of persistent opioid use after cardiac surgery. JAMA Cardiol. 2020;5(8):889-896. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
9. Brummett CM, Waljee JF, Goesling J, et al. New persistent opioid use after minor and major surgical procedures in US adults. JAMA Surg. 2017;152(6):e170504-e170504. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
10. Calcaterra SL, Yamash*ta TE, Min S-J, Keniston A, Frank JW, Binswanger IA. Opioid prescribing at hospital discharge contributes to chronic opioid use. J Gen Intern Med. 2016;31:478-485. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
11. Colvin AC, Harrast J, Harner C. Trends in hip arthroscopy. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2012;94(4):e23. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
12. DiIorio TM, Sharkey PF, Hewitt AM, Parvizi J. Antiemesis after total joint arthroplasty: does a single preoperative dose of aprepitant reduce nausea and vomiting?Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2010;468(9):2405-2409. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
13. Fan ZR, Ma J, Ma XL, et al. The efficacy of dexamethasone on pain and recovery after total hip arthroplasty: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Medicine (Baltimore). 2018;97(13):e0100. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
14. f*ckami Y, Terasaki M, Okamoto Y, et al. Efficacy of preoperative dexamethasone in patients with laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a prospective randomized double-blind study. J Hepatobiliary Pancreat Surg. 2009;16(3):367. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
15. Gan TJ, Meyer T, Apfel CC, et al. Consensus guidelines for managing postoperative nausea and vomiting. Anesth Analg. 2003;97(1):62-71. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
16. Ganz R, Parvizi J, Beck M, Leunig M, Nötzli H, Siebenrock KA. Femoroacetabular impingement: a cause for osteoarthritis of the hip. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2003;417:112-120. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
17. Hah JM, Bateman BT, Ratliff J, Curtin C, Sun E. Chronic opioid use after surgery: implications for perioperative management in the face of the opioid epidemic. Anesth Analg. 2017;125(5):1733-1740. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
18. Harris JD, McCormick FM, Abrams GD, et al. Complications and reoperations during and after hip arthroscopy: a systematic review of 92 studies and more than 6,000 patients. Arthroscopy. 2013;29(3):589-595. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
19. Henzi I, Walder B, Tramèr MR. Dexamethasone for the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting: a quantitative systematic review. Anesth Analg. 2000;90(1):186-194. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
20. Jivraj NK, Raghavji F, Bethell J, et al. Persistent postoperative opioid use: a systematic literature search of definitions and population-based cohort study. Anesthesiology. 2020;132(6):1528-1539. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
21. Karst M, Kegel T, Lukas A, Lüdemann W, Hussein S, Piepenbrock S. Effect of celecoxib and dexamethasone on postoperative pain after lumbar disc surgery. Neurosurgery. 2003;53(2):331-337. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
22. Kent ML, Hurley RW, Oderda GM, et al. American Society for Enhanced Recovery and Perioperative Quality Initiative (POQI-4) joint consensus statement on persistent postoperative opioid use: definition, incidence, risk factors, and health care system initiatives. Anesth Analg. 2019;129(2):543. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
23. Ladha KS, McLaren-Blades A, Goel A, et al. Perioperative Pain and Addiction Interdisciplinary Network (PAIN): consensus recommendations for perioperative management of cannabis and cannabinoid-based medicine users by a modified Delphi process. Br J Anaesth. 2021;126(1):304-318. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
24. LaPorte C, Rahl MD, Ayeni OR, Menge TJ. Postoperative pain management strategies in hip arthroscopy. Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med. 2019;12:479-485. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
25. Liu VX, Eaton A, Lee DC, et al. Postoperative opioid use before and after enhanced recovery after surgery program implementation. Ann Surg. 2019;270(6):e69. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
26. Makary MA, Overton HN, Wang P. Overprescribing is major contributor to opioid crisis. BMJ. 2017;359:J4792. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
27. Matsuda DK, Carlisle JC, Arthurs SC, Wierks CH, Philippon MJ. Comparative systematic review of the open dislocation, mini-open, and arthroscopic surgeries for femoroacetabular impingement. Arthroscopy. 2011;27(2):252-269. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
28. Mattila K, Kontinen V, Kalso E, Hynynen M. Dexamethasone decreases oxycodone consumption following osteotomy of the first metatarsal bone: a randomized controlled trial in day surgery. Acta Anaesthesiol Scand. 2010;54(3):268-276. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
29. Miyagawa Y, Ejiri M, Kuzuya T, Osada T, Ishiguro N, Yamada K. Methylprednisolone reduces postoperative nausea in total knee and hip arthroplasty. J Clin Pharm Therapeutics. 2010;35(6):679-684. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
30. Salerno A, Hermann R. Efficacy and safety of steroid use for postoperative pain relief: update and review of the medical literature. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2006;88(6):1361-1372. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
31. Shin JJ, McCrum CL, Mauro CS, Vyas D. Pain management after hip arthroscopy: systematic review of randomized controlled trials and cohort studies. Am J Sports Med. 2018;46(13):3288-3298. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
32. Spoorenberg SM, Deneer VH, Grutters JC, et al. Pharmaco*kinetics of oral vs. intravenous dexamethasone in patients hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2014;78(1):78-83. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
33. Trasolini NA, McKnight BM, Dorr LD. The opioid crisis and the orthopedic surgeon. J Arthroplasty. 2018;33(11):3379-3382.e3371. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
34. Vargas JH, III, Ross DG. Corticosteroids and anterior cruciate ligament repair. Am J Sports Med. 1989;17(4):532-534. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
35. Volkow ND, McLellan TA, Cotto JH, Karithanom M, Weiss SR. Characteristics of opioid prescriptions in 2009. JAMA. 2011;305(13):1299-1301. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
36. Vuorinen MA, Palanne RA, Mäkinen TJ, Leskinen JT, Huhtala H, Huotari KA. Infection safety of dexamethasone in total hip and total knee arthroplasty: a study of eighteen thousand, eight hundred and seventy two operations. Int Orthop. 2019;43(8):1787-1792. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
37. Xing JG, Abdallah FW, Brull R, et al. Preoperative femoral nerve block for hip arthroscopy: a randomized, triple-masked controlled trial. Am J Sports Med. 2015;43(11):2680-2687. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
38. Zhou G, Ma L, Jing J, Jiang H. A meta-analysis of dexamethasone for pain management in patients with total knee arthroplasty. Medicine (Baltimore). 2018;97(35):e11753. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
39. Zingg PO, Ulbrich EJ, Buehler TC, Kalberer F, Poutawera VR, Dora C. Surgical hip dislocation versus hip arthroscopy for femoroacetabular impingement: clinical and morphological short-term results. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg. 2013;133:69-79. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
Articles from The American Journal of Sports Medicine are provided here courtesy of SAGE Publications
