Correlation between preoperative pressure pain assessments and anxiety and postoperative pain in impacted lower third molar surgery

ABSTRACT

Objectives@#The aim of this study was to evaluate correlations between anxiety and preoperative pressure pain assessments and postoperative pain and analgesic requirements in impacted lower third molar tooth surgery. @*Materials and Methods@#This prospective study enrolled 60 patients who underwent impacted lower third molar surgery. The preoperative StateTrait Anxiety Inventory-I (STAI-I), pressure pain threshold, and pressure pain tolerance scores were measured. At 2, 4, 6, 12, and 24 hours, and at 6 days following surgery, the patients scored their pain on the visual analogue scale and recorded their analgesic drug usage. The data were evaluated, and the results were statistically analyzed. @*Results@#Of the 60 patients, 38 were female. Mean age was 24.62±7.42 years. The study found no relationship between preoperative pressure pain assessments and postoperative pain (P>0.05). There was also no relationship observed between preoperative STAI-I scores and postoperative pain (P>0.05). However, there was a positive correlation between operation time and total medication taken (P<0.05). @*Conclusion@#Preoperative pressure pain threshold, pressure pain tolerance, and anxiety level had no significant effects on postoperative pain and analgesic requirements in impacted lower third molar surgery.