Low Dose Dexamethasone for Distal Radius Fractures

Efficacy of Direct Versus Peripheral Low-Dose Adjuvant Dexamethasone on Duration and Rebound Pain in Regional Anesthesia for Distal Radius Fracture Fixation: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Blinded Study

The addition of the steroid dexamethasone to a single injection of local anesthetic has been shown to significantly prolong the duration of peripheral nerve blockade compared to local anesthetic alone. This allows for improved post-operative pain scores and reduces opioid use in the early post-operative period. However, the use of a steroid adjuvant in regional nerve blocks is generally not considered standard of care, and there is considerable variation among anesthesiologists regarding preferred formulations and the role of adjuvants in regional anesthesia. A recent study from our institution demonstrated the effectiveness of dexamethasone directly mixed with local anesthetic at multiple doses compared to placebo for upper extremity surgery. With this prospective randomized controlled blinded trial, we hope to definitively establish which method of adjuvant dexamethasone administration is superior in extending the effects of a brachial plexus nerve block.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients over the age of 18 undergoing open reduction and internal fixation of a distal radius fracture less than 3 weeks from injury with a volar plate technique
• American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) levels 1 through 3 at time of surgery
• Opioid naïve patients

Exclusion Criteria:

• History of Drug/opioid/alcohol abuse
• Polytrauma patients
• History of inflammatory disorder, infection, dementia, psychiatric/neurological disorder, relevant drug/local anesthesia allergy, relevant chronic upper extremity pain (RSD, fibromyalgia, neuralgia, etc)
• Excessive BMI
• Pregnancy