Rebound Pain and Patient Satisfaction With Dexamethasone as an Adjunct for Peripheral Nerve Blocks. A Substudy Based on Two Randomised Clinical Trials.
Acta Anaesthesiol ScandSep 1, 2026
Laura B Madsen, Jakob H Andersen, Anders K Nørskov et al.
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In 30 seconds
This substudy pooled data from two randomized controlled trials to evaluate the effect of dexamethasone on pain and rebound pain after peripheral nerve blocks in 159 patients undergoing osseous surgery. Dexamethasone significantly reduced median pain scores after block cessation (3.0 vs 5.0) and the risk of rebound pain (18.4% vs 35.7%) compared to placebo.
Key findings
- Median pain score after block cessation was 3.0 in the dexamethasone group versus 5.0 in the placebo group.
- Rebound pain occurred in 18.4% of the dexamethasone group compared to 35.7% in the placebo group.
- Dexamethasone reduced pain after block cessation by a mean difference of -1.7 points.
- No significant difference in patient satisfaction was observed between dexamethasone and placebo groups.
Why it matters
The findings suggest that dexamethasone can effectively manage pain and reduce rebound pain following peripheral nerve blocks, potentially improving postoperative care and patient outcomes.