Efficacy of Ketoprofen With or Without Omeprazole for Pain And Inflammation Control After Third Molar Removal

Abstract

In view of the gastrointestinal problems generated by the ketoprofen use, the ketoprofen association with omeprazole is available on the market. However, this association efficacy in acute pain control has not been established. Bilateral extraction of lower third molars in similar positions is currently the most used model for the evaluation and investigation of the efficacy and pharmacological effects of new compounds for the treatment of acute postoperative pain. The randomized and crossover study consisted in evaluating the clinical efficacy of therapy performed by ketoprofen 100 mg (twice daily-b.i.d.) versus ketoprofen 200 mg + omeprazole 20 mg (once daily-q.d.) to pain, swelling and trismus control in the bilateral extraction model of lower third molars in similar positions in two different appointments, in 50 volunteers. Volunteers reported significantly less postoperative pain at various post-operative periods and consumed less rescue analgesic medication (acetaminophen 750 mg) throughout the study when they took the combination of ketoprofen 200 mg + omeprazole 20 mg (q.d.). Following administration of both study drugs, no gastrointestinal adverse reactions were reported by volunteers. Furthermore, the evaluations of the drugs in pain control by the volunteers were significantly favorable to ketoprofen 200 mg + omeprazole 20 mg (q.d.). For swelling and trismus control, the treatments presented similar results. In conclusion, when volunteers took ketoprofen 200 mg + omeprazole 20 mg (q.d.), they reported significantly less postoperative pain at various post-surgical periods and consumed less rescue analgesic medication throughout the study compared with ketoprofen 100 mg (b.i.d).

Keywords:
ketoprofen; omeprazole; pain control; lower third molar surgery

Resumo

Em vista dos problemas gastrointestinais gerados pelo uso do cetoprofeno, a associação do cetoprofeno com o omeprazol está disponível no mercado. No entanto, esta eficácia de associação no controle da dor aguda não foi estabelecida. A extração bilateral de terceiros molares inferiores em posições semelhantes é atualmente o modelo mais utilizado para a avaliação e investigação da eficácia e efeitos farmacológicos de novos compostos para o tratamento da dor aguda pós-operatória. O estudo randomizado e cruzado consistiu na avaliação da eficácia clínica da terapia com cetoprofeno 100 mg (duas vezes ao dia-b.i.d.) versus cetoprofeno 200 mg + omeprazol 20 mg (uma vez ao dia-q.d.) para o controle da dor, do edema e do trismo no modelo bilateral de terceiros molares inferiores em posições semelhantes em duas consultas diferentes, em 50 voluntários. Os voluntários relataram significativamente menos dor pós-operatória em vários períodos pós-operatórios e consumiram menos medicação analgésica de socorro (acetaminofeno 750 mg) durante todo o estudo quando tomaram a combinação de 200 mg de cetoprofeno + 20 mg de omeprazol (q.d.). Após a administração de ambas as drogas do estudo, nenhuma reação adversa gastrointestinal foi relatada pelos voluntários. Além disso, as avaliações das drogas no controle da dor pelos voluntários foram significativamente favoráveis ​​ao cetoprofeno 200 mg + omeprazol 20 mg (q.d.). Para o controle do edema e do trismo, os tratamentos apresentaram resultados semelhantes. Em conclusão, quando os voluntários tomaram 200 mg de cetoprofeno + 20 mg de omeprazol (q.d.), eles relataram significativamente menos dor pós-operatória em vários períodos pós-cirúrgicos e consumiram menos medicação analgésica de socorro durante o estudo comparado com 100 mg de cetoprofeno (b.i.d).

Introduction

Bilateral extraction of lower third molars in similar positions is currently the most used model for the evaluation and investigation of the efficacy and pharmacological effects of new compounds for the treatment of postoperative pain, such as analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs ^1,2. This type of surgical procedure is recommended since some tissues are manipulated and traumatized in the region where the extraction is performed, composed mainly of loose connective tissue that contains blood and lymphatic vessels. Due to their manipulation, a number of functional and structural changes are expected; among them are the release of exudate and the formation of swelling, with subsequent onset of trismus and pain ^3,4,5.

Pain resulting from the extraction of third molars is usually short in duration and of moderate intensity, with greater pain intensity soon after the surgical procedure ⁶. Swelling is formed due to tissue manipulation during surgery, and presents maximum intensity after 48 h of the surgical procedure ⁷. Trismus after third molar extraction is closely related to the level of swelling and inflammation generated by the surgery, ie, the greater the level of swelling resulting from an inflammatory response, the greater degree of limitation of mouth opening is expected.

To prevent the occurrence of postoperative complications, such as acute pain, studies indicate the use of physical procedures, such as the use of cold packs soon after the surgeries. In addition to these procedures, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have been extensively used as adjuvants for the reduction of these postoperative complications derived from the extractions of the lower third molars ^1,2,8,9.

Scientific evidence demonstrates that NSAIDs exhibit their therapeutic effect by inhibiting cyclooxygenase (COX), and this inhibits the production of prostaglandins (PGs) and thromboxanes. According to the literature, PGs alone do not cause pain, but they potentiate the action of chemical mediators of inflammation, such as bradykinin on the nociceptive fibers, which consequently cause pain amplification ¹⁰. COX is known in two isoforms: COX-1, and COX-2. A third isoform of this enzyme family, known as COX-3 has been discovered, which unlike COX-1 and COX-2, would not produce proinflammatory prostanoids, but rather anti-inflammatory substances. COX-1 is known as a constitutive enzyme. It is associated with the production of prostaglandins and results in several physiological effects, such as gastric protection, platelet aggregation, vascular homeostasis and maintenance of renal blood flow ¹¹.

NSAIDs are commonly prescribed to combat a wide variety of inflammatory pain conditions such as osteoarthritis, rheumatic diseases, soft tissue trauma, and postoperative pain. NSAIDs are also commonly used in dental practice, such as in the treatment of orofacial pain or pain after surgical procedures such as dental extractions ^1,2,8,9. Ketoprofen is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, derived from arylcarboxylic acid, belonging to the propionic acid group of NSAIDs. Ketoprofen has anti-inflammatory, antipyretic and peripheral and central analgesic activity. It inhibits the synthesis of prostaglandins and platelet aggregation, however, its mechanism of action is not completely elucidated ^10,12. Evidence from a number of clinical studies suggests that ketoprofen is an effective analgesic, with its therapeutic effect generally at doses ranging from 75 to 300 mg per day ¹². Omeprazole is a potent inhibitor of H⁺/K⁺ ATPase (proton pump inhibitor), which is responsible for the secretion of hydrochloric acid by parietal gastric cells. Omeprazole was well established as a highly effective inhibitor of acid secretion. The drug has a long duration of action. Remaining acid secretion is significantly reduced at 21 days after withdrawal of omeprazole 20 mg/day for 4 weeks in volunteers with duodenal ulcer. The effect of omeprazole on gastric acid secretion is dose-dependent ^13,14.

In the international literature, several NSAIDs have been studied in randomized, cross-over models, demonstrating their efficacy in the management of acute pain after bilateral extraction of lower third molars in similar positions ^1,2,8,9. This study model of bilateral removal of lower third molars with similar positions is unique, since the same surgery is essentially performed twice in the same patient, and will serve as its own control, thus avoiding response variations ¹⁰.

In view of the gastrointestinal problems generated by the use of ketoprofen, the association of ketoprofen with omeprazole is available on the market. However, the efficacy of this association in the acute control of pain has not been established. In the combination of ketoprofen 200 mg + omeprazole 20 mg the pharmacokinetic profiles of the ketoprofen and omeprazole components are comparable to those of the separately administered ketoprofen and omeprazole components, but the formulation has a sustained release form of ketoprofen and a gastroresistant release form of omeprazole, both suitable for once-daily therapeutic dosing. There is no influence on the pharmacokinetics of ketoprofen when administered concomitantly with omeprazole, and vice versa ¹⁵. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy of ketoprofen 100 mg tablets (b.i.d.) versus ketoprofen 200 mg + omeprazole 20 mg (q.d.), both administered enterally for the control of pain, swelling and trismus in the bilateral extraction model of lower third molars with similar positions in two different appointments.

Material and Methods

The present randomized and cross-over study was performed in volunteers regularly enrolled at the Bauru School of Dentistry, University of São Paulo, after approval by the Institutional Review Board (CAAE: 44808215.6.0000.5417) in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki for Human Research. The clinical trial was registered under ID # NCT02730026 at ClinicalTrials.gov. The present study included healthy individuals (ASA I according to the classification of the American Society of Anesthesiologists) of both sexes, aged 18-38 years, with indication of bilateral third molar extraction.

Volunteers could not have inflammations or infections prior to surgical procedures, such as pericoronitis, alveolitis, osteonecrosis or mucositis. In addition, the volunteers signed the Informed Consent Form. In order to standardize the sample, the volunteers should present the positions of the lower third molars, roots and similar degree of impaction on the right and left sides of the mouth according to the classification of Pell and Gregory as well as Winter ¹⁶, which was confirmed by orthopantomographic radiography and clinical examination.

Eligibility criteria included adults without inflammation, infection and systemic diseases that could possibly interfere with the study. Exclusion criteria were as follows: any history of allergy, gastrointestinal bleeding/ulcers, kidney disease, asthma or any known allergic sensitivity to ketoprofen, omeprazole or any NSAID. Pregnant or lactating women were also excluded from the study, as well as volunteers who used antidepressants, diuretics or NSAIDs 7 days prior to the start of the experiments ^1,2,8,9.

All lower third molars extractions were performed with the same technique and with the same magnitude of surgical trauma, all third molars were impacted, with necessity of bone removal on both opposing sides of the mandible in each of the volunteers of the research. All surgeries were performed by the same oral & maxillofacial surgeon (L.F.S.) and assisted by the same assistant in two different appoints, being performed in two visits with intervals of one to two months. The choice of the side to be operated on and the NSAID to be used [ketoprofen 100 mg twice daily (b.i.d.) (Profenid^®, Sanofi-Aventis Farmacêutica Ltda, Suzano/SP, Brazil) or ketoprofen 200 mg + omeprazole 20 mg once daily (q.d.) (Profenid Protect^®, Sanofi-Aventis Farmacêutica Ltda, Suzano/SP, Brazil), each hard gelatin capsule contains 200 mg of ketoprofen (extended-release microgranules) and 20 mg of omeprazole (gastroresistant microgranules) for 4 days] was done in a randomized manner using a randomization worksheet obtained through the program available at: http://www.randomization.com, number 19482.

The randomization determined which side would be operated and the drug to be prescribed in the first surgery. Therefore, in the second surgery the opposite side would be operated and the other drug prescribed. The drugs were coded in even and odd numbers and the only person responsible for prescribing the postoperative medication knew which drug was being prescribed. This information was not disclosed to researchers until the end of the study.

All anesthetic procedures were performed with blockade of the buccal, lingual and inferior alveolar nerves, initially administering a cartridge (1.8 mL) of local anesthetic. After anesthesia of the lower lip, half a cartridge (0.9 mL) of another tube not yet used and of the same anesthetic solution was administered by an infiltrative terminal technique to diminish hemorrhage and guarantee mucosal anesthesia. The local anesthetic used was 4% articaine with 1:200,000 epinephrine, according to our laboratory studies ^2,8,9,17,18.

As a rescue analgesic medication, if the volunteer judged that the analgesia produced by the anti-inflammatory drug provided was insufficient, acetaminophen (EMS S/A, Hortolândia/SP, Brazil) was prescribed at 750 mg every 8 h ^{2,8,9,17,18,19,20}. Throughout the surgical procedure, notations were made such as: the amount of anesthetic administered, the hemodynamic data of the volunteer at each surgical stage through the DX 2021 Dixtal device (Biomédica Ind e Com Ltda, Marília/SP, Brazil), the amount of bleeding and the degree of difficulty of each stage of surgery (incision, flap, osteotomy, tooth section, extraction, cleaning and suturing) ^{1,2,8,9,17,18,19,21}.

As soon as the procedure was finished, the volunteer immediately received the first anti-inflammatory tablet according to the randomization (ketoprofen 100 mg b.i.d. or ketoprofen 200 mg + omeprazole 20 mg q.d.) and received a pain chart, in which he noted the exact times he took his medication, according to the time of the end of the surgery. In this pain chart, the volunteer was instructed to report any gastrointestinal adverse reaction, fill out if there was a need for ingestion of the rescue medication (acetaminophen 750 mg), and the volunteer was instructed to complete a Visual Analog Scale (0 to 100 mm) for postoperative pain, which contained «no pain (0 mm)» and «worst pain possible (100 mm)». No antibiotics were prescribed to the volunteers due to the pharmacological protocol applied in the present research, which corroborates previous studies by out group ²².

The parameters evaluated were as follows (Table 1):

Table 1:
Parameters evaluated in the study

Parameter	Unit
Quality of anesthesia	3-point scale: 1) no discomfort during surgery; 2) any discomfort without the need for additional anesthesia; 3) any discomfort with the need for additional anesthesia
Overall experience of surgery reported by patient	5-point scale: 1) “poor”; 2) “fair”; 3) “good”; 4) “very good”; 5) “excellent”
Body temperature	Preoperative period, 2nd, 7th postoperative day (oC)
Total volume of local anesthetic	mL
Onset of anesthetic agent action	Min
Total amount of rescue medication (750 mg acetaminophen)	Number of tablets
Systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial pressure; heart rate and oxygen saturation*	mmHg; bpm and % SpO2
Intraoperative bleeding	3-point scale: 1) minimal bleeding; 2) normal bleeding; 3) excessive bleeding
Surgery difficulty	3-point scale: 1) no need for osteotomies without tooth sectioning; 2) need for osteotomies without tooth sectioning; 3) need for osteotomies and tooth sectioning complicated
Subjective evaluation of postoperative pain	Visual analog scale (VAS, 0 to 100 mm)
Mouth opening	Preoperative period, 2nd, 7th postoperative day (mm)
Surgery duration	min
Adverse reactions	Observed by the surgeon or reported by the volunteer, during the surgery in the first postoperative hour and during the 2nd and 7th days after surgery.
Facial swelling	Preoperative period, 2nd, 7th postoperative day (mm)
Quality of wound healing	7th day; 3-point scale: 1) normal healing without inflammation; 2) delayed healing; 3) healing complicated by inflammation or local infection with or without purulent material

• * Dixtal® (model DX2021, DixtalBiomédicaInd and Com Ltda, Marília, SP, ANVISA/MS 10293490035, model number 101503732).

• Subjective evaluation of postoperative pain, which was recorded by the volunteer himself on a Visual Analog Scale (0 to 100 mm). Subjective pain assessments were performed by volunteers at the following times after administration of the drugs {0; 15; 30 and 45 min, 1; 1.5; 2; 3; 4; 5; 6; 7; 8; 10; 12; 16; 24, 48, 72 and 96 h};

• Mouth opening (distance in mm between the edges of the upper and lower incisors during the maximum opening achieved by the volunteer) before the surgery, on the 2nd postoperative day and at the time of sutures removal (7th day, respectively). The postoperative ability to open the mouth was expressed as a percentage of the preoperative measurement;

• Onset and duration of surgery after anesthetic administration;

• Patients were asked if they experienced any discomfort and/or side effects at the time of appointment for suture removal;

• Total amount of pain relief medication used (acetaminophen 750 mg);

• Measurement of facial swelling on the 2nd postoperative day and on the 7th postoperative day (removal of stitches) and quality of healing.

Statistical Analysis

G*Power software v.3.0.10 was used for the sample calculation. Data were tabulated using Microsoft® Excel 2012 (version 10.6871.6870) and GraphPad Prism (version 4.0) was used to perform statistical analysis. For comparison of some parameters proposed in the study the paired t test for the parametric data and the Wilcoxon test for non-parametric data were used. For the analysis of pain data, Friedman test was used because the data are not parametric. For the mouth opening and trismus analyzes the two-way ANOVA was used since the data are parametric. Mean ± standard deviations were used to express the parametric data. Median [interquartile ranges] were used to express the non-parametric data. The level of significance adopted was 5%.

The sample size calculation was performed based on mouth opening, trismus, amount of rescue medication and pain 8h after the surgery (peak) data from previously studies ^8,9. The minimal effect size was 0.37741, the power was 70% and the significance level was 5%.

Results

After the eligibility evaluation, the study consisted of 54 volunteers; of these, two volunteers evolved with purulent discharge in the postoperative period, one patient became pregnant in the research development and one patient had different duration of both surgeries, therefore these 4 volunteers they were excluded from the study with the total sample composed of 50 volunteers. There were 33 women (66%) and 17 men (34%) aged 18-38 years (mean age 24 ± 5 years) (CONSORT flow chart, Fig. 1).

Figure 1:
Study flowchart.

Each of the 50 volunteers completing this study had each of the lower third molars classified as IA (n = 24), IB (n = 3), IIA (n = 12), IIB (n = 9) and IIC (n = 2) according to Pell and Gregory; and vertical (n = 27), horizontal (n = 17) and distal (n = 6) according to Winter ¹⁶. The need for osteotomy or tooth sectioning was determined by x-ray analysis confirmed by visual inspection during the surgery. When volunteers took ketoprofen 100 mg b.i.d., osteotomies and tooth sectioning were performed in 32 surgeries, 9 surgeries only osteotomy, and osteotomies and tooth sectioning were not necessary in 9 surgeries. When volunteers took ketoprofen 200 mg + omeprazole 20 mg q.d., osteotomies and tooth sectioning were performed in 30 surgeries, only osteotomies in 12 surgeries, and 9 did not require osteotomies and tooth sectioning. For all these results, no significant statistical difference was found regarding surgical trauma (Table 2).

Table 2
Third molars position according to Pell & Gregory and Winter, number of surgeries without osteotomy and tooth sectioning, number of surgeries with only osteotomy and number of surgeries with osteotomy and tooth sectioning.

	Ketoprofen 100 mg b.i.d.	Ketoprofen 200 mg + Omeprazole 20 mg q.d.
IA	24
IB	3
IC	0
IIA	12
IIB	9
IIC	2
IIIA	0
IIIB	0
IIIC	0
Vertical	27
Horizontal	17
Distoangular	6
Mesioangular	0
Inverted	0
Buccal/Lingual Obliquity	0
Surgeries without osteotomy and tooth sectioning	9	9
Surgeries with only osteotomy	9	11
Surgeries with osteotomy and tooth sectioning	32	30

• Pell and Gregory classification based on the amount of tooth covered by the anterior border of the ramus: Class I 3rd molar impaction: Situated anterior to the anterior border of the ramus, Class II 3rd molar impaction: Crown ½ covered by the anterior border of the ramus. Class III 3rd molar impaction: Crown fully covered by the anterior border of the ramus. The depth of the impaction relative to the adjacent tooth (A,B,or C). Class A: the occlusal plane of the impacted tooth is at the same level as the adjacent tooth. Class B: the occlusal plane of the impacted tooth is between the occlusal plane and the cervical line of the adjacent tooth. Class C: the occlusal plane of the impacted tooth is apical to the cervical line of the adjacent tooth. Winter classification: Mesio-Angular: The impacted tooth is tilted toward the 2nd molar in a mesial direction. Disto-Angular: The long axis of the 3rd molar is angled distally / posteriorly away from the 2nd molar. Horizontal: The long axis of the 3rd molar is horizontal. Vertical: The long axis of the 3rd molar is parallel to the long axis of the 2nd molar. Buccal / Lingual Obliquity: In combination with the above, the tooth can be buccally (tilted towards the cheek) or lingually (tilted towards the tongue) impacted. Inverted: In this position, the tooth is displaced in an upside down position, with the crown facing the alveolar nerve.

The mean duration of surgery when volunteers received ketoprofen 100 mg b.i.d. was 19.3 ± 5.8 min, and ketoprofen 200 mg + omeprazole 20 mg q.d. was 21 ± 7.7, without a statistically significant difference (p = 0.0768, Table 3). In the postoperative pain scores documented by each volunteer there was a statistically significant difference in the periods of 1.5, 7, 8, 10, 12, 16, 24, 48 and 72 h postoperative ketoprofen 100 mg b.i.d. and ketoprofen 200 mg + omeprazole 20 mg q.d. (p<0.05) (Fig. 2).

Table 3
Self-reported consumption of pain relief medication and pain scores when pain relief medication was consumed

Drugs	Amount of relief medication (tablets)	Pain score (0 to 100)	Time duration, surgery to 1st relief medication (h)
Ketoprofen 100 mg b.i.d.	3 [4.5]	29.7 ± 20.6	7.0 [5.7]
Ketoprofen 200 mg + Omeprazole 20 mg q.d.	0.5 [3] *	27.7 ± 20.2	5.1 [5.4]

• Numbers reported with ± indicate a mean ± 1 SD, numbers reported with [ ] indicate a median and IRQ* Indicates a p-value ≤ 0.05, Wilcoxon test versus ketoprofen 100 mg b.i.d.

Figure 2
Visual analog scale (VAS) of self-reported postoperative pain scores after lower third molar surgeries assessed at 15, 30, 45 min and 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 12, 16, 24, 48, 72 and 96 h. Scores could range from 0 to 100 mm with larger scores indicating increased pain. Data are presented as median and interquartile range (n = 50). * Indicates a p-value ≤ 0.05, Wilcoxon test, for each assessed time period comparing ketoprofen 100 mg b.i.d. and ketoprofen 200 mg + omeprazole 20 mg q.d.

After standard administration of the study drugs in both groups, the mean amount of rescue analgesic medication taken per volunteer was 3 [4.5] tablets of 750 mg acetaminophen per person in the ketoprofen 100 mg b.i.d. group of and 0.5 [3] in the ketoprofen 200 mg + omeprazole 20 mg q.d. during the entire postoperative period of the study (p=0.0026). However, the time to use the first pain relief medication and the level of pain reported in both groups were similar (p>0.05) (Table 4).

Table 4
Demographic distribution and intraoperative parameters of 50 volunteers undergoing invasive lower third molar surgeries

Parameters	Ketoprofen 100 mg b.i.d	Ketoprofren 200 mg + Omeprazole 20 mg q.d.
Age (years)	24 ± 5.0
Male	17 (34%)
Female	33 (66%)
Anesthetic (cartridges)	1.5 [0]	1.5 [0]
Surgery duration (min)	19.3 ± 5.8	21.0 ± 7.7
Onset of local anesthetic (sec)	116 ± 48	113 ± 47
Anesthesia quality (1 to 3)	1 [0]	1 [0]
Surgery difficulty (1 to 3)	3 [1]	3 [1]
Intraoperative bleeding (1 to 3)	1 [0]	1 [0]
Wound-healing evaluation (1 to 3)	1 [0]	1 [0]
Preoperative period Mouth opening (mm)	47.3 ± 7.7	46.2 ± 6.7
Mouth opening (mm) Second day	29.9 ± 8.3#	28.1 ± 7.1#
Mouth opening (mm) Seventh day	38.4 ± 8.8#	37.1 ± 9.4#
Facial measurement (mm) Preoperative period	378.5± 24.0	377.7± 21.4
Facial swelling (mm) Second day	398.1 ± 23.2#	394.6 ± 21.9#
Facial swelling (mm) Seventh day	386.1 ± 23.8#	383.8 ± 22.4#
Body temperature (oC) Preoperative period	36.02 ± 0.77	36.06 ± 0.17
Body temperature (oC) Second day	36.09 ± 0.55	36.36 ± 1.10
Body temperature (oC) Seventh day	35.57 ± 0.50	36.00 ± 0

• Numbers reported with ± indicate a mean ± 1 SD, numbers reported with [ ] indicate a median and IRQ. * versus ketoprofen 100 mg b.i.d. and # versus preoperative period.

When analyzed for swelling and trismus values, there was no statistically significant difference in the sum of the mean linear distances between the two drugs studied (p>0.05). The swelling had its maximum peak significantly increased during the second day, and did not return to baseline after the seventh day for both treatments (p<0.05). Regarding the maximum mouth opening, there was a statistically significant difference (p<0.05) between the preoperative (basal) and postoperative periods (48 h and 7 days) for both treatments. On the other hand, there was no significant difference when compared to the study drugs (p>0.05). Another parameter evaluated and that did not present significant difference between the when volunteers took the drugs ketoprofen 100 mg b.i.d. vs ketoprofen 200 mg + omeprazole 20 mg q.d. was the quality of healing.

Following administration of both study drugs, no gastrointestinal adverse reactions were reported by volunteers. In addition, no adverse reaction to the use of any anesthetic solution was observed by the surgeon or reported by the volunteers during and after the surgeries. There was also no statistically significant difference regarding the time of action of the local anesthetic 4%articaine with 1:200,000 epinephrine, number of cartridges used in each extraction and quality of anesthesia. In addition, during all surgeries, no hypertensive peaks were observed in the systolic, diastolic and mean arterial pressure data. The oxygen saturation, heart rate and bleeding index did not change significantly during the surgeries (Table 3).

There were statistically significant differences observed between the global evaluations of volunteers for ketoprofen 100 mg b.i.d. and ketoprofen 200 mg + omeprazole 20 mg q.d. According to the global postoperative evaluations of the volunteers, ketoprofen 200 mg + omeprazole 20 mg q.d. was classified as excellent and very good for postoperative pain, swelling and trismus control, significantly better evaluated when compared to ketoprofen 100 mg b.i.d. (p = 0.0001) (Fig. 3).

Figure 3
Self-reported global efficacy of oral ketoprofen 100 mg b.i.d. and ketoprofen 200 mg + omeprazole 20 mg q.d. during the seventh postoperative day as assessed using a 5-level Likert scale (n = 50). The format of the Likert ratings was “excellent,” “very good,” “good,” “fair,” or “poor”. * Indicates a p-value ≤ 0.05, Wilcoxon test for the “excellent” sub-group between research medications.

Discussion

The present randomized and cross-over study investigated the clinical efficacy of postoperative pain control, swelling, and trismus using enterally ketoprofen 100 mg once every 12 h and ketoprofen 200 mg in combination with omeprazole 20 mg administered once every 24 h, after extractions of lower third molars under local anesthesia. As a method of evaluating acute postoperative pain, some researchers use analog visual scales, in which volunteers report the evaluation of the intensity of their pain ^1,2,8,9,23, as the present study, which used the visual analog scale to determine the intensity of postoperative pain, ketoprofen 200 mg + omeprazole 20 mg q.d. had a superior analgesic effect when compared to ketoprofen 100 mg b.i.d., with a statistically significant difference in the control of pain, mainly in the periods of 1.5, 7, 8, 10, 12, 16, 24, 48 and 72 h postoperative. It is worth emphasizing at this moment that the acute pain control after the surgeries by both drugs was effective, since the literature reports that pain below 45 mm does not affect the daily routine of the volunteers ^17,21,24.

The efficacy of ketoprofen 100 mg has also been compared with methylprednisolone in pain control after third molar surgery, with peak pain intensity occurring within the first 12 h with the use of both drugs ¹². Although there were significant differences in pain scores in the present study, the results showed that ketoprofen 100 mg presented the highest pain intensity in the 10-hour postoperative period. However, it is worth noting that for both drugs evaluated, pain control was satisfactory since the volunteers reported less than 20 mm in the visual analog scale score, which reflects in mild pain according to Hawker et al. 2011 ²³.

Pain, swelling and trismus arising from the extraction of lower third molars are usually influenced by some variables such as time of surgery, medication, postoperative care and tissue manipulation ⁷. Data from the present study revealed that the duration of surgery was the same when volunteers were medicated either with ketoprofen 200 mg + omeprazole 20 mg q.d. or ketoprofen 100 mg b.i.d., thus demonstrating the reliability of the experimental model used in the present study since the volunteers were submitted to the same magnitude of surgical trauma.

Swelling derived from third molar extractions presents maximum intensity after 48 h of the surgical procedure ⁷. In the present study, swelling had its peak during the second postoperative day as reported by the aforementioned study. After adding the linear measures of swelling and trismus of 48 h and 7 days postoperatively and comparing with the baseline measurement, the data demonstrated that there was no statistically significant difference between the medications, which shows that there was a standardization of surgical trauma in both, and that both ketoprofen 100 mg b.i.d. and ketoprofen 200 mg + omeprazole 20 mg q.d. were equalized in the control of postoperative swelling and trismus.

Another variable widely used to predict the difficulty of extracting the lower third molars, and influences the level of surgical trauma, is the Pell and Gregory ⁹ classification based on their spatial relationships with the ascending mandible branch and the occlusal plane ¹⁶. In the present study, although most of the lower third molars were classified as IA (n = 24) according to Pell and Gregory and in the vertical position (n = 27) according to Winter ¹⁶, there was a high level of surgical difficulty, since there was a need for osteotomy and tooth sectioning in the great majority of dental elements due to root dilaceration and divergence, besides the degree of impaction, culminating with greater surgical trauma and, consequently, an increase in postoperative swelling and trismus.

The clinical efficacy of ketoprofen in the control of postoperative pain after extractions of third molars has been widely described in clinical trials (5, 25). The use of ketoprofen 75 mg and acetaminophen 1,000 mg was compared, showing lower levels of pain reported by volunteers who received ketoprofen, thus demonstrating that even at lower doses ketoprofen is effective in the control of postoperative pain ²⁵.

Another parameter used to define the postoperative pain intensity of the volunteers in the present study was the amount of rescue analgesic medication (acetaminophen 750 mg) used which corroborate with many studies evaluating the patient’s need to use pain relief medication, thus demonstrating the drug’s efficacy in pain modulation (4, 9). When volunteers took ketoprofen 100 mg b.i.d., they consumed a greater amount of rescue analgesic medication compared to the use of ketoprofen of 200 mg + omeprazole 20 mg q.d. (p=0.0026) to reduce postoperative pain. The mean time in hours for the volunteers to take the first tablet of rescue analgesic medication, the results show that when they took ketoprofen 200 mg + omeprazole 20 mg q.d. was 5 h, whereas 7 h when they used ketoprofen 100 mg b.i.d. (p=0.53). The results differ of Pouchain et al. 2015 ²⁶ compared the effect of nimesulide 100 mg and ketoprofen 100 mg, both b.i.d., on the inflammatory parameters related to the surgical removal of third molars, both administered immediately after the surgical procedure, but the use of pain relief drugs was considered unnecessary by volunteer. The data showed that although complete pain relief was not observed, the level of pain was tolerable to volunteers.

In contrast, the administration of several NSAIDs, including ketoprofen, was evaluated in volunteers undergoing surgery for extraction of impacted third molars and it was observed that 75% of the volunteers consumed pain relief medication during the early onset of pain (3 h after the surgical procedure) and that 24% of the volunteers consumed pain relief medication immediately after the surgical procedure ²⁷. In the present study, when volunteers took ketoprofen 100 mg b.i.d., used significantly higher total amount of rescue analgesic medication compared to when took ketoprofen 200 mg + omeprazole 20 mg b.i.d. (76 vs. 50% respectively, p=0.001).

It is particularly important for the clinician to know which NSAIDs present the highest risk of gastrointestinal complications. In a meta-analysis performed to assess the risk of severe gastrointestinal complications associated with 12 commonly used chronic NSAIDs, ibuprofen represented the lowest risk of gastrointestinal toxicity. In contrast, the relative risk (RR) of some NSAIDs compared with ibuprofen (RR = 1) reached values of up to 3.8 (piroxicam) and 4.2 (ketoprofen) ²⁸. Ketoprofen 200 mg drug in combination with omeprazole 20 mg is new on the market and is indicated for the symptomatic treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis in volunteers at risk of developing ulcer or erosions in the stomach, duodenum or other part of the intestine with the use of NSAIDs. One study evaluated whether the effect of a dose of omeprazole would alter the pharmacokinetics of enteric ketoprofen and determined that omeprazole does not affect hepatic flow rate and is also a more direct agent for the inhibition of gastric acid production, offering advantages for the study of the effect of gastric acidity on the release of enteric coated products ²⁹. The pharmacokinetic profiles of ketoprofen and omeprazole components in this combination used in the present study are comparable to those of the separately administered ketoprofen and omeprazole components. There is no influence on the pharmacokinetics of ketoprofen when administered concomitantly with omeprazole ^13,14,15,28.

Following administration of both study drugs, no adverse reactions were reported by the volunteers. This may be due to the fact that the NSAIDs administered were for a short period of time, and volunteers did not have any underlying disease, blood dyscrasias or drug allergy.

Based on the assumption that other methods for pain assessment contribute to research adopting this type of study model such as in the present study, global assessment is a widely used tool offering a holistic view of drug efficacy in general patient conception ^{(2, 8, 9, 18)}. Therefore, ketoprofen 200 mg + omeprazole 20 mg b.i.d. shows lower levels of postoperative pain in comparison to ketoprofen 100 mg b.i.d., thus receiving an excellent classification in the global evaluation of the volunteers participating in this study. As described, the combination of ketoprofen 200 mg + omeprazole 20 mg includes a prolonged release form of ketoprofen and a gastroresistant release form of omeprazole, both suitable for once-daily dosing ¹⁵. In addition, in comparison with other studies by our study group evaluating different NSAIDs in bilateral third molar extraction model, ketoprofen 200 mg + omeprazole 20 mg b.i.d. showed as good pain control as other drugs evaluated such as piroxicam, valdecoxib, etoricoxib, meloxicam, ketorolac, naproxen ^1,2,8,9,21.

In summary, the results of the present study revealed that when volunteers took ketoprofen 200 mg + omeprazole 20 mg (q.d.), they reported significantly less postoperative pain at various post-surgical periods and consumed less rescue analgesic medication (acetaminophen 750 mg) throughout the study compared with ketoprofen 100 mg (b.i.d.). In addition, self-reported global efficacy was significantly more favorable to ketoprofen 200 mg + omeprazole 20 mg (q.d.). As far as swelling and trismus control, both treatments presented similar results.

Acknowledgements

Financial support by São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) 2014/25792-0.

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Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  Mar-Apr 2018

History

• Received
  11 Jan 2018
• Accepted
  18 Mar 2018