Efficacy of Corticosteroid Addition to a Periarticular Cocktail Injection to Counteract Nausea and Vomiting After Total Knee Arthroplasty

Background: Intraoperative periarticular injection of a "cocktail" of drugs is undertaken commonly in total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The addition of a corticosteroid to the periarticular injection is believed to offer greater pain relief because of its local anti-inflammatory effects, but the prevalence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is not known. This retrospective observational study aimed to elucidate the relationship between corticosteroid addition to a periarticular cocktail injection (PCI) and PONV. Materials and methods: Fifty-nine patients who underwent unilateral TKA for primary osteoarthritis were divided into two groups: corticosteroid and non-corticosteroid. The former had triamcinolone acetonide (40 mg) added to the same PCI. The primary outcome was the prevalence of nausea and vomiting within 48 hours following TKA. Results: There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of patient demographics. The overall prevalence of PONV was 16.9%. Fewer patients in the corticosteroid group complained of PONV than in the non-corticosteroid group (6.4% vs. 58.3%; p = 0.012). Conclusions: The addition of a corticosteroid to a PCI suppressed PONV. Our results suggested that cocktail injections may have local and systemic effects.