PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare the analgesic efficacy of a single-dose of preoperative intravenous tramadol versus diclofenac in preventing pain after third molar surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS:Fifty patients undergoing elective third molar surgery were randomly assigned into one of the two groups (25 in each group): Group 1 received diclofenac 75 mg, and Group 2 received tramadol 50 mg intravenously preoperatively before the surgery. After injection of the study drugs, the impacted third molars were removed under local anesthetic agent. RESULTS: The difference in postoperative pain was assessed by four primary end-points: pain intensity as measured by a 100 mm visual analogue scale hourly for 12 h, median time to rescue analgesic, postoperative acetaminophen consumption, and patient's global assessment. Throughout the 12 h investigation period, patients reported significantly lower pain intensity scores in the diclofenac versus tramadol group (P = 0.0001, Mann-Whitney U-test). Patients also reported significantly longer median time to rescue analgesic (10 vs. 8 h, P < 0.05, Student t test), lesser postoperative acetaminophen consumption (P < 0.05, Student t test) for the diclofenac versus tramadol group. CONCLUSION: Preoperative intravenous diclofenac 75 mg is more effective than tramadol 50 mg in the prevention of postoperative dental pain.
RCT Entities:
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare the analgesic efficacy of a single-dose of preoperative intravenous tramadol versus diclofenac in preventing pain after third molar surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty patients undergoing elective third molar surgery were randomly assigned into one of the two groups (25 in each group): Group 1 received diclofenac 75 mg, and Group 2 received tramadol 50 mg intravenously preoperatively before the surgery. After injection of the study drugs, the impacted third molars were removed under local anesthetic agent. RESULTS: The difference in postoperative pain was assessed by four primary end-points: pain intensity as measured by a 100 mm visual analogue scale hourly for 12 h, median time to rescue analgesic, postoperative acetaminophen consumption, and patient's global assessment. Throughout the 12 h investigation period, patients reported significantly lower pain intensity scores in the diclofenac versus tramadol group (P = 0.0001, Mann-Whitney U-test). Patients also reported significantly longer median time to rescue analgesic (10 vs. 8 h, P < 0.05, Student t test), lesser postoperative acetaminophen consumption (P < 0.05, Student t test) for the diclofenac versus tramadol group. CONCLUSION: Preoperative intravenous diclofenac 75 mg is more effective than tramadol 50 mg in the prevention of postoperative dental pain.