ABSTRACT
Background: Surgical removal of impacted lower third molars is a common oral surgical procedure, generally followed by moderate to severe postoperative pain. Transdermal drug delivery as a concept offers interesting possibilities for postoperative pain control. Aims and Objectives: to evaluate and compare the degree of post-operative analgesia, patient compliance and frequency of adverse events between transdermal ketoprofen patch and transdermal fentanyl patch following third molar extraction. Methods: Total 7 patients aged 18-65 years with impacted mandibular third molar teeth were included in the study. The study drugs transdermal patches of fentanyl and ketoprofen was applied one hour before the surgical procedure on the skin, preferably in an area devoid of any hair. The selected mandibular third molar tooth of either of the side was extracted in the first appointment using an aseptic protocol. Every patient was given a Verbal Pain Intensity and Pain Relief chart ( both 5- point scales with values 0-4 ) for assessing pain intensity and pain relief for all the three post-operative days. Results: During the first four hours of operative day, the difference observed between the two groups was not found to be statistically significant (p=0.881). Whereas during the first eight hours of operative day the difference observed between the two groups was not found to be statistically significant (p=0.141). During the first twelve hours of operative day, the difference observed between the two groups was not found to be statistically significant (p=0.276). At the end of operative day, the difference observed between the two groups was found to be statistically significant (p=0.048). Conclusion: Transdermal fentanyl patch was more effective for immediate pain relief than transdermal ketoprofen patch for pain control following removal of mandibular impacted third molars.