Comparison of the Effect of Dexamethasone and Ketorolac on Pain Control in Elective Foot Surgery

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to compare the effect of dexamethasone and ketorolac on pain control in elective foot surgery. Methods: Forty patients visiting Akhtar and Imam Hossein Hospital for lower limb orthopedic surgery were selected. They were randomly divided into two groups: (1) dexamethasone, and (2) ketorolac. The dexamethasone group received eight mg dexamethasone intravenously. Also, 90 mg ketorolac was infused in one liter of normal saline serum for 24 hours for the ketorolac group. Before injection and 2, 4, and 6 hours after the injection, pain control was measured employing the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) score. Corresponding data were then analyzed using the independent t-test. Results: The conclusions revealed that in two and four hours after injection, there was a significant difference between the two groups in the amount of VAS score. That is, the pain was weaker in the ketorolac group than in the dexamethasone group. The findings additionally proved that there was no statistically important difference in pain levels between the two groups six hours after injection. Conclusions: Overall, according to the results of the research, it can be settled that ketorolac is a better drug in foot surgery pain control than dexamethasone.