title: Efficacy of fentanyl transdermal patch in pain control after lower third molar surgery: A preliminary study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Surgical removal of impacted lower third molars is a common oral surgical procedure, generally followed by moderate to severe postoperative pain. Transdermal drug delivery as a concept offers interesting possibilities for postoperative pain control. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of transdermal system with fentanyl in relieving pain following impacted lower third molar surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventeen patients with bilateral impacted lower third molars were included in this preliminary study. For postoperative pain control, patients randomly received a fentanyl patch plus placebo tablet after the first operation and regular (placebo) patch and an analgesic, after the second operation. Analgesia was evaluated during first 24 hours postoperatively according to patients' reports about time of first pain appearance and additional analgesic consumption. Pain severity was rated using a 10 cm long visual analogue scale (VAS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Intensity of postoperative pain and postoperative analgesic consumption were significantly lower after the Fentanyl Transdermal System (FTS) was applied (p<0.05). Duration of postoperative analgesia was significantly higher with FTS when compared to control treatment (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on the results of this preliminary study, transdermal system with fentanyl significantly reduced postoperative pain after third molar surgery.
authors.affiliation: School of Dental Medicine, University of Belgrade, Serbia, todent@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: V-S
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Todorovic
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vasovic
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Andric
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Todorovic
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kokovic
mesh_terms: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005283:Fentanyl / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008964:Molar, Third / Q000601:surgery*; D059408:Pain Management; D010149:Postoperative Pain; D014081:Tooth Extraction; D014095:Tooth, Impacted / Q000601:surgery*; D057968:Transdermal Patch
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D005283:Fentanyl