Dexamethasone Perioperative Coanalgesia in Lumbar Spine Fusion

PURPOSE: A 48-hour trial of dexamethasone coanalgesia became our standard practice in May 2008. This is our research Ethics Board-approved review of this experience to date with attention to perioperative narcotics use and pain scores for the first 48 hours after surgery as well as length of stay (LOS), wound healing complications, and infections in the first 6 months, compared with the historical precedent control cohort. METHODS: Surgical …