The effect of two perioperative dexamethasone regimens on duration of analgesia after upper limb surgery under supraclavicular brachial plexus block: A randomized-controlled study

Background

This study aims to compare the effects of two perioperative dexamethasone regimens on duration of analgesia after upper limb surgery under supraclavicular brachial plexus block (SBPB). Patients and methods: Between October 2024 and August 2025, this double-blind, randomized-controlled study included a total of 48 patients who were in the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Class I-III and underwent elective unilateral osseous surgery of the forearm or hand under ultrasound-guided SBPB with 30 mL of 0.5% ropivacaine. The patients were randomized in 1:1 ratio to oral dexamethasone (OD) group to receive 12 mg OD 2 h before the block and intravenous dexamethasone (ID) group to receive 8 mg of ID at the time of block. The primary outcome was the duration of analgesia. Secondary outcomes included duration of motor block, pain scores at 6, 12 and 24 h, additional postoperative analgesic consumption over the first 24 h and the Quality of Recovery-15 (QoR-15) at 24 h.