A study of the comparative efficacy of three common analgesics in the control of pain after third molar surgery under local anaesthesia.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to evaluate the comparative efficacy of three commonly used analgesics (Panadeine, Diflunisal and Etodolac) in the control of pain after third molar surgery under local anaesthesia.


METHODS
A randomized control study. Outcome of primary efficacy was judged by overall assessment of the area under the curve of graphs for pain intensity, measured from serial visual analogue scales over a 24-hour period. Other measures of efficacy included the number (per cent) of patients who took 'additional' analgesics and the incidence of adverse effects occurring in each treatment group over the study period.


RESULTS
The three drugs were effective in the control of post-operative pain (p<0.01). Variations in pain intensity and the use of additional medication between the treatment groups were observed over the study period. The Diflunisal group experienced less pain than the Panadeine or Etodolac group (p<0.01). Furthermore, a lesser number of those in the Diflunisal group used additional medication compared to the other two groups (p<0.01). The incidence of side effects from all three drugs was low.


CONCLUSIONS
Diflunisal is superior in the control of pain following third molar surgery under local anaesthesia than either Panadeine or Etodolac, and has few side effects.
Comfort
M B
MB
Faculty of Dentistry, University of Hong Kong SAR, China. mcomfort@hkucc.hku.hk
Tse
A S K
AS
Tsang
A C C
AC
McGrath
C
C
D000082:Acetaminophen / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000700:Analgesics / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000766:Anesthesia, Dental; D000772:Anesthesia, Local; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019540:Area Under Curve; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003061:Codeine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004061:Diflunisal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004338:Drug Combinations; D017308:Etodolac / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008964:Molar, Third / Q000601:surgery*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014081:Tooth Extraction; D014095:Tooth, Impacted / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000700:Analgesics; D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; D004338:Drug Combinations; C526278:acetaminophen, codeine drug combination; D017308:Etodolac; D000082:Acetaminophen; D004061:Diflunisal; D003061:Codeine