Preemptive use of dexamethasone reduced postoperative pain and opioid consumption during the 6- to 24-hour period and reduced overall opioid consumption during the entire 72-hour period. The mean VAS pain score (2.4 versus 4.0; p < 0.001) (Fig. 3) and opioid consumption during the 6- to 24-hour period (73.5 versus 128.3 μg; p < 0.001) (Fig. 4A), and overall opioid consumption (406.2 versus 500.1 μg; p = 0.004) (Fig. 4B) were lower in the Dexa-Ra group compared with the Ra group. However, no between-group differences were observed during the whole study period (p > 0.1 for all comparisons), except during the 6- to 24-hour postoperative period (pain VAS and opioid consumption during the 6- to 24-hour period in the Dexa-Ra group versus Ra group were 2.4 versus 4.0 [p < 0.001] and 73.5 versus 128.3 μg [p < 0.001], respectively).