Pre-Emptive Analgesic Effect of Tramadol After Mandibular Third Molar Extraction: A Pilot Study
Purpose
We compared the efficacy of tramadol given before or immediately after surgical extraction of an impacted mandibular third molar under local anesthesia.
Materials and Methods
In this prospective, randomized, controlled, double-blind pilot study, 3 groups of 20 patients each were included: tramadol preoperative, 100 mg intramuscularly (IM) 1 hour before surgery (group A); tramadol postoperative, 100 mg IM immediately after surgery (group B); and saline (group C). We evaluated intensity of pain and analgesic consumption as was requested.
Results
The analgesic efficacy measured as complete relief of pain at 24 hours was 86% in the preemptive tramadol compared with 70% and 36% for postoperative tramadol administration and control group. A significant reduction in the consumption of analgesics was seen in preoperative group as compared with the postoperative and control groups. Adverse events were minimal and similar in all groups.
Conclusions
This study suggests the preemptive use of tramadol as an alternative for the acute pain treatment after the removal of an impacted mandibular third molar carried out under local anesthesia.
⁎Associate Professor, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Facultad de Estomatología, Universidad Autonoma de San Luis Potosi, San Luis Potosi, Mexico.
†Associate Professor, Department of Pharmacology, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autonoma de San Luis Potosi, San Luis Potosi, Mexico.
‡Professor and Head, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Facultad de Estomatología, Universidad Autonoma de San Luis Potosi, San Luis Potosi, Mexico.
§Associate Professor, Department of Pharmacology, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autonoma de San Luis Potosi, San Luis Potosi, Mexico.
Address correspondence and reprint requests to Ms Aguirre-Banuelos: Facultad de Ciencias Quimicas, Universidad Autonoma de San Luis, Potosi, Av Dr Manuel Nava #6, Zona Universitaria, C.P. 78200; San Luis Potosi, S.L.P. Mexico
This study was partially supported and funded by Universidad Autónoma San Luis Potosí; C0-FAI-04-3.4 and C04-FAI-10-10.53.
ABSTRACT