Effect of Adding Dexamethasone to Bupivacaine in Ultrasound-Guided Supraclavicular Brachial Plexus Blocks Versus Bupivacaine Alone for Upper Limb Orthopaedic Surgery (SCBPBs)

• SCBPBs provides optimal conditions for procedures performed below the mid-upper arm (elbow, forearm, wrist, hand) due to its high success rate and ease of access.
• Dexamethasone, when administered perineurally as an adjuvant for a supraclavicular block, demonstrated early onset of sensory and motor block, a prolonged duration of sensory and motor block, and a lower number of rescue analgesics as compared to bupivacaine alone.
• A combination of dexamethasone and bupivacaine is paramount in adult orthopeadic patient to enhance the efficacy of pain management under ultrasound-guided supraclavicular brachial plexus block.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Upper Limb Surgery; Dexamethasone; Bupivacaine
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Dexamethasone 8 mg

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 54

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Ethiopia
  • Āsela, Ethiopia
    • Mohammed Gebi

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The study included 54 patients aged 18-60 years with ASA I and II who were scheduled for elective elbow, forearm, or hand surgery under ultrasound-guided supraclavicular bloc

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

Aged 18-60 years with ASA I and II who were scheduled for elective elbow, forearm, or hand surgery under ultrasound-guided supraclavicular block.

Exclusion Criteria:

Patients who refused, used local anaesthetics other than bupivacaine, had multiple traumas, addition of another additive, bleeding disorders, patients diagnosed with chronic pain, cancer pain, local infection at the injection site, history of local anaesthetic allergy, patients with anxiety, and inability to comprehend or use the pain rating scale

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

2

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
Group DB; Patients received a supraclavicular brachial plexus block with dexamethasone 2 ml (8 mg) added to 38 ml of 0.25 % bupivacaine.	Drug: Dexamethasone 8 mg; Adding 8 mg of dexamethasone to bupivacaine for ultrasound-guided supraclavicular block
Group B; Patients received a supraclavicular brachial plexus block with 40 ml of 0.25 % bupivacaine alone.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
The onset of sensory and motor blockade, and the duration of sensory and motor blockade in minutes.	The onset of sensory: the period between injecting a study solution and losing sensation to a pinprick at every nerve distribution; The onset of motor block: The duration between the injection of the study solution and paresis in every nerve distribution.; duration of sensory: the period between the onset of a sensory block and the complete restoration of sensation.; Duration of motor block: the period between the onset of a motor block and the complete restoration of motor function.	with in the first 24hrs after procedure

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
postoperative pain score by a visual analogue scale	This assesses behavioural or subjective phenomena by having the participant choose an alternative from a gradient ranging from 0 = (no pain) to 100 = worst possible pain. Based on the VAS score, 0-20 mm = no pain; 21-40 mm = mild pain; 41-60 mm = moderate pain; 61-80 mm = severe pain; and 81-100 mm = the worst pain imaginable	with in the first 24 hrs after procedure
First analgesic request time	The first postoperative period, when patients require pain treatment if the visual analogue score is>4	With in the first 24 hrs after surgery

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Arsi University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): January 1, 2024
• Primary Completion (Actual): April 30, 2024
• Study Completion (Actual): April 30, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: January 23, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 3, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): February 10, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): February 10, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 3, 2026
• Last Verified: February 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: dexamethasone,Bupivacaine,Analgesia,supraclavicular block
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Polycyclic Compounds; Pregnadienes; Pregnanes; Steroids; Fused-Ring Compounds; Steroids, Fluorinated; Pregnadienetriols; Dexamethasone
• Other Study ID Numbers: No-A/CHS/RC/19/2023

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No