The efficacy of buffered ketoprofen in postoperative pain after third molar surgery.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate in a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, the efficacy (time to onset of meaningful pain relief) of single doses of buffered ketoprofen (12.5 mg) and ibuprofen (200 mg) in 180 patients with postoperative pain after third molar surgery.


METHODS
180 adult patients who had undergone third molar surgery under general anaesthesia participated in this study. After dosing, patients recorded their time to meaningful pain relief, pain intensity on both visual analogue scales and verbal rating scales, pain relief and the need for additional analgesia. Pain recordings were made at fixed time points over a 6-h investigation period.


RESULTS
Buffered ketoprofen (12.5 mg) provided quicker meaningful pain relief than placebo (P = 0.023). For secondary efficacy measures (SPIDS4, SPIDS6, TOTPAR4, TOTPAR6), the buffered ketoprofen was significantly superior to both placebo (P < 0.001) and ibuprofen (200 mg) (P < 0.05). Similarly, the amount of time before taking an escape analgesic was significantly less in the placebo group than both the ibuprofen and buffered ketoprofen groups (P < 0.03).


CONCLUSIONS
Buffered ketoprofen (12.5 mg) provides effective pain control in the early postoperative period after third molar surgery. This ketoprofen preparation was also superior to ibuprofen (200 mg) with respect to both reducing pain intensity and providing an earlier onset of pain relief.
Seymour
R A
RA
Department of Restorative Dentistry, The Dental School, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. r.a.seymour@newcastle./ac.uk
Watkinson
H
H
Hawkesford
J E
JE
Moore
U
U
D000328:Adult; D000698:Analgesia; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002021:Buffers; D004244:Dizziness / Q000139:chemically induced; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007052:Ibuprofen / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007660:Ketoprofen / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008964:Molar, Third / Q000601:surgery*; D009325:Nausea / Q000139:chemically induced; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014839:Vomiting / Q000139:chemically induced
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D002021:Buffers; D007660:Ketoprofen; D007052:Ibuprofen