Local Ketamine Improves Postoperative Analgesia After Third Molar Surgery

Area of Science:

• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Pain Management
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Local administration of ketamine (LAK) shows potential for peripheral analgesia.
• Third molar surgery is associated with significant postoperative pain, swelling, and trismus.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and meta-analyze the efficacy of LAK in managing pain, swelling, and trismus post-third molar surgery.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective clinical and randomized controlled trials.
• Searched electronic databases from September 2017 to February 2019.
• Analyzed postoperative acute pain, swelling, and trismus using standardized mean difference (SMD).

Main Results:

• LAK demonstrated a significant analgesic effect, reducing postoperative pain (SMD, -1.7403).
• LAK significantly reduced swelling on the first postoperative day (SMD, -0.6169).
• LAK did not show a significant effect in reducing trismus (SMD, -0.7241).

Conclusions:

• LAK effectively reduces postoperative pain and swelling after third molar surgery.
• The anti-inflammatory effect of LAK is primarily observed in the early postoperative period (first day).
• LAK does not appear to be effective in reducing trismus following third molar extraction.