Postoperative analgesic effects of dexamethasone sodium phosphate in bunion surgery

A double-blind study was performed to evaluate the postoperative analgesic effects of dexamethasone sodium phosphate. This steroid or normal saline was randomly injected immediately after surgery into both feet of 51 patients who had identical procedures performed on each foot for the correction of bunion deformities. Pain as assessed by the patients at 24 hr. and from 4 to 7 days postoperatively was significantly less in the feet treated with the steroid. No complications were attributed to the steroid treatment. This study supports the use of dexamethasone sodium phosphate for postoperative analgesia.