Low-Volume Versus Standard-Volume Pericapsular Nerve Group Block with and Without Dexamethasone for Postoperative Analgesia After Total Hip Arthroplasty: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Journal of Clinical Medicine, cilt.15, sa.10, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Cilt numarası: 15 Sayı: 10
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Doi Numarası: 10.3390/jcm15103676
- Dergi Adı: Journal of Clinical Medicine
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Chemical Abstracts Core, EMBASE, Academic Search Ultimate (EBSCO), Health Research Premium Collection (ProQuest)
- Anahtar Kelimeler: analgesia, dexamethasone, hip arthroplasty, nerve block, opioid-related disorders, ropivacaine
- İstanbul Medipol Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
Background: The pericapsular nerve group block provides motor-sparing analgesia after total hip arthroplasty, but the optimal injectate volume and the role of dexamethasone remain unclear. Methods: In this prospective, randomized, quadruple-blinded trial, 120 patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty under spinal anesthesia were allocated to receive ultrasound-guided pericapsular nerve group block with 20 mL or 10 mL of 0.2% ropivacaine, with or without 4 mg dexamethasone. The primary outcome was time to first rescue opioid within 24 h. Secondary outcomes included opioid consumption, pain scores, quadriceps strength, inflammatory markers, and safety. The study was designed as a superiority trial and was not powered to assess non-inferiority between volume groups. Results: Dexamethasone significantly prolonged time to first rescue opioid (hazard ratio 0.08, 95% confidence interval 0.04–0.16; p < 0.0001). Injectate volume had no significant effect on the primary outcome (p = 0.13), and no interaction between dexamethasone and volume was observed. Total opioid consumption at 48 h was lower in patients receiving dexamethasone (mean difference −3.88 mg oral morphine equivalents; p < 0.0001). Pain scores were consistently lower with dexamethasone, while injectate volume had no effect. Quadriceps strength was preserved in all groups. No nerve injury or clinically relevant hyperglycemia was observed. Conclusions: Dexamethasone improves analgesic efficacy of the pericapsular nerve group block after total hip arthroplasty. Reducing injectate volume from 20 mL to 10 mL did not significantly affect the analgesic outcomes; however, the study was not designed to assess non-inferiority. These findings support a strategy of volume optimization in regional anesthesia.