A Comparison of Pre-emptive Analgesic Efficacy of Aceclofenac and Piroxicam for Post-Operative Pain Management after third Molar Surgery: A Prospective, Randomized, Double-blind Study

Abstract

The study aimed to compare the analgesic efficacy of Aceclofenac 100 mg and Piroxicam 20 mg as a pre-emptive analgesic for preventing post-operative pain after third molar surgery. Fifty patients with impacted mandibular third molars who required surgical removal were included in the study. These patients were divided into two groups randomly. One group consisted of patients receiving Aceclofenac 100 mg as a pre-emptive analgesic, and the other group consisted of patients receiving Piroxicam 20 mg as a pre-emptive analgesic 1 hour before the procedure. The study findings show both the drugs were equally effective in managing post-operative pain following third molar surgery. On statistical analysis, there was no significant difference in pain experience among both groups A and B in post-operative period who underwent surgery. However, the study observes a highly significant difference in both the groups in terms of pain intensity scores at different times. Results show that there was a significant difference before, 3^rd day and 5^th day; Further study shows that the effectiveness of the drug was not confirmed in 24 hours to 3 days. It was observed both the groups shows a significant difference in trismus on the 5^th and 3^rd day. This comparative research of pain intensity shows after pre-emptive analgesia with Aceclofenac and Piroxicam in impaction of third molars, a pronounced pre emptive effect in the group treated with Piroxicam 20mg was seen. Still, there was no statistically significant difference noted in VAS before and 5^th day of both groups.