Pre-emptive analgesic effectiveness of meloxicam versus tramadol after mandibular third molar surgery: a pilot study

Abstract

Purpose: To compare the pre-emptive analgesic effectiveness of 15 mg of meloxicam and 50 mg of tramadol after mandibular third molar surgery.

Patients and methods: This pilot study was a double-blind, randomized, parallel-group clinical trial. The patients were randomized into 2 treatment groups, each with 15 patients, by use of a series of random numbers: group A was administered 15 mg of meloxicam intramuscularly (IM) 50 minutes before the surgery and group B was given 50 mg of tramadol IM 50 minutes before the surgery. We evaluated pain intensity, analgesic consumption, swelling, and trismus.

Results: The group receiving 15 mg of meloxicam IM showed differences in pain intensity evaluated by the area under the curve of the visual analog scale and total analgesic consumption when compared with the group receiving 50 mg of tramadol IM.

Conclusion: The patients receiving 15 mg of preoperative meloxicam had less pain intensity and total analgesic consumption than those receiving 50 mg of preoperative tramadol.