Dexamethasone as Adjuvant to Bupivacaine Prolongs the Duration of Thermal Antinociception and Prevents Bupivacaine-Induced Rebound Hyperalgesia via Regional Mechanism in a Mouse Sciatic Nerve Block Model

Abstract

Perineural, not systemic, dexamethasone added to a clinical concentration of bupivacaine may not only prolong the duration of sensory and motor blockade of sciatic nerve, but also prevent the bupivacaine-induced reversible neurotoxicity and short-term "rebound hyperalgesia" after the resolution of nerve block.