Medicine
Parham Maroufi; Mahdi Nazari
Abstract
Introduction: This systematic review aims to evaluate the analgesic effect of intravenous dexamethasone in patients undergoing volar plate surgery for distal radius fractures. The findings of this review will provide valuable insights into the potential role of dexamethasone as an adjunctive analgesic ...
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Introduction: This systematic review aims to evaluate the analgesic effect of intravenous dexamethasone in patients undergoing volar plate surgery for distal radius fractures. The findings of this review will provide valuable insights into the potential role of dexamethasone as an adjunctive analgesic agent in this surgical setting. By synthesizing the available evidence, this review aims to contribute to the existing literature and guide clinical decision-making regarding postoperative pain management strategies. Material and Methods: Data extraction was performed independently by two reviewers using a standardized data extraction form. The following information was collected: study characteristics (author, year of publication, study design), patient demographics (sample size, age, sex), surgical details (type of volar plate surgery, anesthesia technique), intervention details (dose, timing, and duration of intravenous dexamethasone administration), control group characteristics, outcome measures, and relevant results. Any discrepancies were resolved through discussion and consensus. Results: The primary outcome measure assessed in the included studies was postoperative pain intensity. Pain intensity scores were evaluated using various validated pain rating scales, including the visual analog scale (VAS) and numerical rating scale (NRS). Secondary outcome measures included postoperative opioid consumption, time to first analgesic request, duration of analgesic effect, adverse effects related to dexamethasone administration, and patient satisfaction scores. Conclusion: this systematic review provides evidence supporting the analgesic effect of intravenous dexamethasone following volar plate surgery for distal radius fractures. Dexamethasone effectively reduces postoperative pain intensity, opioid consumption, and the need for rescue analgesia. The sustained analgesic effect and favorable safety profile make dexamethasone a promising adjunctive analgesic in this surgical setting.
