The Difference Between Using Local and General Dexamethasone in Arthroscopic Anterior Cruciate Ligament Repair

Adductor Canal Block With Dexamethasone Versus Adductor Canal Block With Systemic Dexamethasone in Arthroscopic Anterior Cruciate Ligament Repair

Status

Completed

Phases

Study type

Interventional

Source

ClinicalTrials.gov

Registry ID

NCT06537518

Enrollment

123

Registered

2024-08-05

Start date

2022-05-01

Completion date

2022-12-25

Last updated

2024-08-05

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

ACL Injury

Brief summary

Arthroscopic knee injuries, such as the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, are common and often result in postoperative pain. Regional anesthetic techniques, such as femoral nerve block (FNB) and adductor canal block (ACB), can help alleviate pain and reduce opioid consumption. ACB, which blocks the saphenous nerve and obturator nerve branches, is preferred over FNB due to its potential to decrease mobility and increase falls risk. Dexamethasone, a potent glucocorticoid, is used as an adjuvant for ACB, but its perineural administration may carry neurotoxicity risks. Some pain physicians prefer intravenous administration to prolong the action of local anesthetics used in peripheral nerve blocks.

Interventions

DRUGDexamethasone injection

Dexamethasone, a potent glucocorticoid, decreases the inflammatory response, tissue damage, and pain after surgical procedures; which can be injected locally or Intravenously.

DRUGBupivacaine 0.375% Injectable Solution

Isobaric bupivacaine (0.375%) is injected into the adductor canal deeply to the sartorius muscle around the saphenous nerve after ensuring negative aspiration space.

DRUGBupivacaine 0.5% Injectable Solution

20 ml of Bupivacain 0.5% was mixed with dexamethasone 8 mg is injected into the adductor canal deeply to the sartorius muscle around the saphenous nerve after ensuring negative aspiration space.

Study design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Intervention model

PARALLEL

Primary purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE (Subject)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

ALL

Age

18 Years to 60 Years

Healthy volunteers

Inclusion criteria

* Patients diagnosed with ACL injury; * Patients in class I, II according to American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification.

Exclusion criteria

* Patients free of all Inclusion Criteria.

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame	Description
Proportion of patients reporting at least a 50% reduction in pain (measured by Numerical Rating Scale) post-arthroscopic ACL management.	6 months	Value of administration of dexamethasone enhancing the analgesic action of bupivacaine used in ACB after arthroscopic management of the ACL.

Countries

Egypt

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026