Clinical study

ADJUNCT-2 is a randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled trial of patients undergoing orthopaedic surgery to examine the ankle or foot, exploring the combination of intravenous dexamethasone and dexmedetomidine prolongs the duration of a peripheral nerve block more effectively than dexamethasone alone.

Dexamethasone has only been tested perineurally and intravenously in randomized trials, and the effect of oral dexamethasone has never been studied. In addition, it is unclear whether a larger dose of dexamethasone results in a more significant prolongation of the nerve block duration. Therefore, in 180 orthopaedic surgical patients who need to have surgery on their forearm or hand with an infraclavicular plexus brachialis block, we will investigate the effects of two different doses of peroral dexamethasone (12 versus 24mg versus placebo). Participants will be followed for 48 hours postoperatively for the nerve block duration, the quantity of pain, sleep quality, and morphine consumption.

Previous research has shown that the combination of dexmedetomidine and dexamethasone can prolong the period of a nerve block more effectively than each drug alone. Therefore, in 120 orthopaedic surgical patients who need surgery on their forearm or hand with poplitea and saphenous block, we will investigate the effects of the combination of dexamethasone 12mg and dexmedetomidine 1 mcg/kg versus dexamethasone alone and placebo.

https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04853446

https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04818749