Abstract
The use of opioids in combination with nonopioids is common practice for acute pain management after third molar surgery. One such combination is paracetamol, ibuprofen, and codeine. The authors assessed the efficacy of codeine when added to a regimen of paracetamol and ibuprofen for pain relief after third molar surgery. This study was a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial conducted in patients undergoing the surgical removal of at least 1 impacted mandibular third molar requiring bone removal. Participants were randomly allocated to a control group (paracetamol 1,000mg and ibuprofen 400mg) or an intervention group (paracetamol 1,000mg, ibuprofen 400mg, and codeine 60mg). All participants were treated under intravenous sedation and using identical surgical conditions and technique. Postoperative pain was assessed using the visual analog scale (VAS) every 3hours (while awake) for the first 48hours after surgery. Pain was globally assessed using a questionnaire on day 3 after surgery. There were 131 participants (36% men; control group, n=67; intervention group, n=64). Baseline characteristics were similar for the 2 groups. Data were analyzed using a modified intention-to-treat analysis and, for this, a linear mixed model was used. The model showed that the baseline VAS score was associated with subsequent VAS scores and that, with each 3-hour period, the VAS score increased by an average of 0.08. The treatment effect was not statistically meaningful, indicating there was no difference in recorded pain levels between the 2 groups during the first 48hours after mandibular third molar surgery. Similarly, the 2 groups did not differ in their global ratings of postoperative pain. Codeine 60mg added to a regimen of paracetamol 1,000mg and ibuprofen 400mg does not improve analgesia after third molar surgery.
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