A comparison of the efficacy of injectable dexamethasone sodium phosphate versus placebo in postoperative podiatric analgesia.

Abstract

Forty-two patients undergoing identical bilateral foot surgery were evaluated in a double-blind study designed to evaluate the efficacy of injectable dexamethasone sodium phosphate versus placebo as an analgesic. Patients who had elective foot surgery on an outpatient basis received an injection of dexamethasone sodium phosphate in one foot and an equivalent injection of normal sterile saline in the contralateral foot. Both the patients and the surgeons were unaware of which foot was injected with each agent. The results suggest that there was not a difference in the patient perception of which foot was most painful. Forty-eight to 72 hours after surgery, 18 (44%) patients identified the foot that received steroid as less painful, 18 (44%) patients identified the foot that received placebo as less painful, and 5 (12%) patients did not perceive a difference. In addition, there was not a difference in outcome based on soft-tissue or osseous procedures.