A double-blind randomized controlled trial comparing dexamethasone and clonidine as adjuvants to a ropivacaine sciatic popliteal block for foot surgery

Figures & data

Figure 1 Flowchart of study patients.

Abbreviation: NSAID, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug.

Table 1 Age, tourniquet time, and onset times of 57 subjects undergoing popliteal blockade

	All	Saline	Dexamethasone	Clonidine	P-value
Age (years)	48±15	49±15	48±15	47±14	NS
Tourniquet time (minutes)	39±11	39±9	42±14	36±7	NS
Sensory onset time (minutes)	28±35	32±19	34±42	20±18	NS
Motor onset time (minutes)	33±28	33±20	43±58	24±18	NS

Note: Data is presented as mean ± standard deviation.

Abbreviation: NS, nonsignificant.

Table 2 Primary and secondary end point results of 57 subjects undergoing popliteal blockade

Time to …	Saline	Dexamethasone	Clonidine	P-value
… First pain sensation (hours)	22±6	31±9 (+42%)	28±10 (+27%)	0.024
… First sensory regression (hours)	15±15	21±7 (+41%)	17±6 (+13%)	0.006
… First motor regression (hours)	17±4	25±7 (+46%)	21±4 (+19%)	<0.001
… Complete sensory regression (hours)	23±5	36±6 (+55%)	30±7 (+27%)	<0.001
… Complete motor regression (hours)	20±2	32±7 (+55%)	22±5 (+10%)	<0.001

Note: Data is presented as mean ± standard deviation.

Table 3 Pairwise analysis of block survival times

P-value	Saline vs dexamethasone	Saline vs clonidine	Dexamethasone vs clonidine
Time to first pain sensation	0.004	0.089	0.684
First sensory regression	0.001	0.432	0.067
First motor regression	<0.001	0.022	0.006
Complete sensory regression	<0.001	0.005	0.245
Complete motor regression	<0.001	0.389	0.002

Figure 2 Block survival times.

Notes: (A) Kaplan–Meier (K–M) cumulative distribution for pain >3, (B) Box–whisker plot for pain-free intervals. K–M cumulative distribution for motor (C) and sensory (D) block duration.