AzTrials
AzTrials

PainNCT02412657

Intravenous Dexamethasone to Increase the Analgesic Duration of Interscalene Block

A study testing Dexamethasone and Normal Saline in people with Pain, run by Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital at 3 sites in Canada.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
Search all trials

Trial summary

Interscalene brachial plexus block provides excellent but time limited analgesia. Intravenous dexamethasone increases the analgesic duration of a single-shot interscalene block with ropivacaine for shoulder arthroscopic surgery. We want to evaluate the effect of two different doses (dexamethasone 10 mg i.v. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 80 years
Conditions the study is for
Pain
What is being tested?
Dexamethasone and Normal Saline
Type of treatment
Injection or infusion
Could I receive a placebo?
Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
How many people
75 participants
Where
3 sitesCanada
Study dates
Sep 2014to Nov 2015
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 to 80 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Elective shoulder arthroscopy under ropivacaine single-shot interscalene brachial plexus block anesthesia (rotator cuff repair and shoulder decompression)
  • ASA I-III
  • Age 18-80 years old

Who cannot join

  • Any contraindication to interscalene brachial plexus block anesthesia
  • Interscalene brachial plexus block failure
  • Known local anesthetics allergy
  • Dexamethasone allergy or intolerance
  • Any contraindication to acetaminophen
  • Any contraindication to morphine or hydromorphone
Show all 15Show fewer
  • Brachial plexus neuropathies
  • Chronic pain syndrome other than shoulder pain
  • Routine use of opioid medication
  • Routine use of systemic corticosteroid
  • Pregnancy
  • Weight below 50 kilograms
  • Incapability to understand a numeric verbal pain scale
  • Incapability to consent
  • Patient refusal

Trial locations and contacts

3 sites in 1 country.

Canada3 sites
  • Hopital Pierre-Boucher

    Longueuil, Quebec, J4M 2A5

  • Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital

    Montreal, Quebec, H1T 4M5

  • Hopital Hotel-Dieu de Sorel

    Sorel-Tracy, Quebec, J3P 1N5

Other trials in Canada

About this study

Official title: Impact of Two Doses of Intravenous Dexamethasone on the Analgesic Duration of a Single-shot Interscalene Block With Ropivacaine for Shoulder Arthroscopy; a Prospective, Randomized, Placebo-controlled Study

Interscalene brachial plexus block provides excellent but time limited analgesia. Intravenous dexamethasone increases the analgesic duration of a single-shot interscalene block with ropivacaine for shoulder arthroscopic surgery. We want to evaluate the effect of two different doses (dexamethasone 10 mg i.v. vs 4 mg i.v. vs placebo) on the analgesic duration of a single-shot inter scalene block. Our study hypothesis is that dexamethasone 4 mg i.v. is equivalent to dexamethasone10 mg i.v. in prolonging the analgesic duration of a single-shot interscalene block with ropivacaine.

Read the detailed description

75 patients will be randomly assigned to three groups:

  • D10: dexamethasone 10 mg I.V. diluted in normal saline 20cc, immediately after inter scalene block
  • D4: dexamethasone 4 mg I.V. diluted in normal saline 20cc, immediately after inter scalene block
  • C: control: Normal saline 20cc I.V., immediately after inter scalene block. These patient will be recruited from 3 hospitals, with two surgeons performing the surgeries.

All patients will have their surgery under regional anesthesia only provided by the inter scalene plexus block, with ropivacaine 0.5% 20cc.

In the postoperative period, patients will be given analgesic medication on an as needed basis. They will be instructed to take the first analgesic medication once postoperative shoulder pain has reached >3/10. They will note the time and day at which this outcome occurs.

Conditions
Pain
Being tested
Dexamethasone, Normal Saline
Medical subject headings
Pain

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • DexamethasoneDrug

    Also called decadron

    After the performance of inter scalene plexus blockade, patients will either receive dexamethasone 10 mg i.v. (diluted with 17.5 mL normal saline), dexamethasone 4 mg i.v. (diluted with 19 mL normal saline), or normal saline 20 ml i.v.

  • Normal SalineDrug

Study groups in NCT02412657
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Dexamethasone 10 mg intravenousExperimentalDexamethasone 10 mg diluted with Normal Saline 17,5 mL i.v. (20 mL total) injected slowly during 30 seconds immediately after performing interscalene brachial plexus block
Receives: Drug: Dexamethasone
Dexamethasone 4 mg intravenousExperimentalDexamethasone 4 mg diluted with Normal Saline 19 mL i.v. (20 mL total) injected slowly during 30 seconds, immediately after performing interscalene brachial plexus block
Receives: Drug: Dexamethasone
Normal Saline 20 mL intravenousPlacebo comparatorNormal saline 20 mL injected slowly during 30 seconds, immediately after performing interscalene brachial plexus block
Receives: Drug: Normal Saline

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Duration of Analgesia

    Defined as the time between the performance of the block and the first analgesic request

    Measured: 48 hours after surgery

Secondary outcomes (4)
  1. Pain Scores

    On a 11-points Verbal Numeric Scale 0-10 (0= no pain, 10= worst conceivable pain)

    Measured: every 6 hours during the first 48 hours after surgery

  2. Residual Motor Block

    Scale of 0-2 (0:inability to move fingers, 1: fingers able to move, with diminished strength compared to non operated side, 2: No motor weakness of the fingers)

    Measured: 24 hours and 48 hours

  3. Sleep Disturbance

    Sleep disturbance scale 0-10 (0: no sleep disturbance from pain, 10: worst conceivable sleep disruption from pain)

    Measured: 24 hours and 48 hours

  4. Patients Overall Satisfaction

    categorical data (1: very satisfied, would recommend this analgesia protocol to others, 0: not satisfied, would not recommend this analgesia protocol to others

    Measured: 48 hours

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted9 Apr 2015 (estimated)
  2. Study startSep 2014
  3. Primary completionOct 2015
  4. Study completionNov 2015

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
Quadruple blind
Who is masked
Participant, Care provider, Investigator, Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
75 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT02412657
Sponsor's protocol ID
dexaISB
Status last verified
Aug 2018
First submitted
12 Mar 2015
Last updated
13 Sep 2018
Data monitoring committee
Yes
Individual data sharing
Yes

Publications

  • Chalifoux F, Colin F, St-Pierre P, Godin N, Brulotte V. Low dose intravenous dexamethasone (4 mg and 10 mg) significantly prolongs the analgesic duration of single-shot interscalene block after arthroscopic shoulder surgery: a prospective randomized placebo-controlled study. Can J Anaesth. 2017 Mar;64(3):280-289. doi: 10.1007/s12630-016-0796-6. Epub 2017 Jan 3.

    PubMed 28050801

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Dexamethasone and Normal Saline in people with Pain, run by Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital at 3 sites in Canada.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 15 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 13 Sep 2018. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 3 sites in Canada. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 12 Apr 2016). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Duration of Analgesia (time frame: 48 hours after surgery). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT02412657, which also lists 1 linked publication.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 13 Sep 2018.

Free account

Log in to keep searching

You’ve used your 3 free searches. AzTrials is free: log in or create a free account to keep searching clinical trials and save the ones you want to follow.

Create a free accountLog in