Aims and Objectives: The aim of the study is to compare and study the efficacy of dexamethasone versus tramadol when added as adjuvant to 0.5% ropivacaine in supraclavicular brachial plexus block for upper
extremity surgeries. To compare the duration of postoperative analgesia with dexamethasone and tramadol added as an adjuvant to 0.5% Ropivacaine in supraclavicular brachial plexus block. To observe the side effects of the above two groups. Materials and Methods: All the patients were randomly allocated into two groups so that, each group consists of 30 patients of either sex in a given age range posted for elective upper extremity surgeries after obtaining consent from each of them. Group - RD: Injection Ropivacaine 0.5% (29 ml) + Injection dexamethasone 8 mg (2 ml) Group - RT: Injection Ropivacaine 0.5% (29 ml) + Injection tramadol 2 mg/kg. Hemodynamic variables and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) score was significantly were noted at regular
intervals until the end of the surgery. Results: Onset of motor block was earlier in Group RD: (21.8 ± 1.57 min) as compared to Group RT: (25.1 ± 2.41 min). Onset of sensory block was earlier in Group RD: (16.63 ± 0.88 min) as compared to Group RT (17.43 ± 0.97 min). Total Duration of sensory block was lesser in Group RT (475.99 ± 31.24 mins) as compared to Group RD (580.00 ± 40.42 mins) p - value < 0.001. Total duration of motor block was lesser in Group RT(415.99 ± 31.24 mins) as compared to Group D (520.00 ± 40.42 mins) p - value < 0.001. Time to rescue analgesia was earlier in Group RT (580 mins) than in Group RD (816 mins). Duration of analgesia was longer in Group RD, as compared to Group RT. Conclusion: We observed that Group RD (Inj.
0.5% Ropivacaine + Inj. Dexamethasone 8 mg) has faster onset of sensory and motor blockade than RT (Inj. 0.5% Ropivacaine + Inj. Tramadol 2 mg/kg) when used in supraclavicular block in upper extremity surgeries. Duration of analgesia was greater with Dexamethasone when added as an adjuvant as compared to Tramadol and also Dexamethasone reduces the requirement of postoperative analgesia.