Effects of injected deposteroid on posttonsillectomy morbidity: a double-blind study.

There are numerous studies using various agents to reduce posttonsillectomy morbidity. Due to lack of conclusive results a double-blind study using methylprednisolone acetate (Depo Medrol) was conducted. A total of 165 patients were randomly divided into two groups. Following tonsillectomy 2.5 ml of solution was injected into the base of each tonsillar fossa. The study group received 20 mg of deposteroid to each fossa while the control group got normal saline. The deposteroid reduced postoperative pain but did not significantly alter other factors contributing to morbidity such as difficulty in swallowing or resumption of a normal diet. The deposteroid appeared to have no effect on the rate of healing of the tonsillar fossa.