Realción de las variables del paciente y de la intervención con el dolor y la inflamación postoperatorios en la exodoncia de los terceros molares

Résumé

Objectives: An analysis is made of the influence of patient and surgical variables upon the postoperative pain and swelling normally associated with third molar extractions. Study design: The following patient variables were considered in a series of 150 individuals subjected to third molar extraction: sex, age, and dimensions of neurotic personality trait and extroversion (based on the Eysenck Personality Inventory, EPI). The corresponding surgical intervention parameters were: duration, ostectomy degree, dental sectioning and number of sutures. Pain was scored on a visual analog scale (VAS) 0, 8, 24, 43 and 48 hours after surgery, while inflammation was rated by means of a verbal response scale (VRS) 48 hours after extraction. Results: Multivariate analysis showed postextraction pain to be mainly related to patient age and the number of sutures on the day of the operation, and to swelling over the subsequent days. A less important relation was observed with patient sex and the dimensions of neuroticism and extroversion. Conclusions: In conclusion, older patients and those subjected to extractions involving a greater number of sutures refer the most intense pain. In turn, patients with increased intensity pain also present greater inflammation.