Postoperative analgesia in impacted third molar surgery: the role of preoperative diclofenac sodium, paracetamol and lornoxicam

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to compare the postoperative analgesic effects of preoperative intravenous [i.v.] paracetamol, diclofenac sodium and lornoxicam [nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs]. Sixty patients with impacted third molar who underwent surgical removal were randomly allocated into three groups group P [n=20], group D [n=20] and group L [n=20]. Group P received preoperatively 1 g paracetamol i.v., group D 75 mg diclofenac sodium i.m. and group L 8 mg lornoxicam i.v. Postoperative pain intensity, additional consumption of analgesics postoperatively and postoperative complications were compared among groups. The groups were comparable for pain scores [p>0.05]. Maximum pain scores were recorded in postoperative 4th h in all groups [group L 22, 14-44 mm; group P 24, 13-43 mm; group D 14, 10-24 mm, p=0.117]. Patients experienced high satisfaction scores which were comparable among groups [group L 85, 75-100 mm; group P 87, 70-95 mm; group D 84, 77-98 mm, p=0.457]. Preoperative intramuscular diclofenac, intravenous paracetamol and lornoxicam effectively decreased the pain scores. The patients were satisfied with the three postoperative pain management regimens