Randomized double-blind comparison of tiaprofenic acid and diclophenac sodium after third molar surgery.
OBJECTIVE
This study compares the effectiveness of tiaprofenic acid with diclophenac sodium over a 7-day period with respect to pain, facial swelling, and trismus.


METHODS
Sixty patients who required general anesthesia for removal of bilateral impacted third molar teeth were included. Intraoperatively, they received intramuscular injections of either tiaprofenic acid or diclophenac sodium followed respectively by tiaprofenic acid tablets for 5 days and placebo for an additional 2 days or diclophenac sodium tablets for the full 7 days. Surgical and anesthetic techniques were standardized. Pain levels were compared hourly for 4 hours postoperatively and thereafter twice daily for 7 days. Changes in facial swelling and trismus were compared on days 2 and 7 postoperatively.


RESULTS
No statistically significant difference was found between the two treatment groups with respect to pain or facial swelling. Only with respect to recovery in mouth-opening ability (trismus) from day 2 to day 7 did diclophenac sodium reveal a statistically significant advantage (p = 0.0452).
van der Westhuijzen
A J
AJ
Department of Maxillofacial and Oral Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Stellenbosch, South Africa.
Roelofse
J A
JA
Grotepass
F W
FW
Becker
P J
PJ
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004008:Diclofenac / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004487:Edema / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008964:Molar, Third / Q000601:surgery*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control; D011422:Propionates / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013997:Time Factors; D014081:Tooth Extraction / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014095:Tooth, Impacted / Q000601:surgery; D014313:Trismus / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D011422:Propionates; D004008:Diclofenac; C021270:tiaprofenic acid