Impact of Preemptive Analgesia on Postoperative Pain in Orthognathic Surgery

Overview

This randomized controlled clinical trial evaluates the effect of preemptive analgesia on postoperative pain outcomes in adult patients undergoing orthognathic surgery. Participants scheduled for bilateral sagittal split osteotomy and Le Fort I osteotomy under general anesthesia will be randomized to one of three groups: intravenous acetaminophen, intravenous ibuprofen, or a control group receiving standard postoperative analgesia without preoperative medication. The study aims to determine whether the administration of pre-surgical analgesics reduces postoperative pain intensity and analgesic requirements during the early postoperative period. Pain will be assessed using a standardized pain scale at multiple time points following surgery, and secondary outcomes will include postoperative analgesic consumption and patient satisfaction with pain control. This investigation seeks to contribute evidence supporting multimodal analgesic strategies and improved postoperative pain management in patients undergoing orthognathic surgery.

Effective management of postoperative pain remains an important component of perioperative care in patients undergoing orthognathic surgery. Procedures such as bilateral sagittal split osteotomy and Le Fort I osteotomy are associated with significant postoperative discomfort due to extensive manipulation of osseous and soft tissue structures. Preemptive analgesia, defined as the administration of analgesic medication prior to surgical injury, has been proposed as a strategy to attenuate central sensitization and reduce postoperative pain intensity. This study is designed as a participant-blinded, randomized controlled clinical trial conducted in the operating room at the Administration of Medical Services in Puerto Rico (ASEM). Adult patients between 21 and 65 years of age with American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status I or II who are scheduled to undergo orthognathic surgery will be invited to participate following informed consent. A total of 72 participants will be enrolled and randomly assigned in a 1:1:1 ratio to one of three groups: intravenous acetaminophen, intravenous ibuprofen, or a control group receiving no preoperative analgesic intervention. Participants in the intervention groups will receive either acetaminophen 1 g intravenously or ibuprofen 600 mg intravenously approximately 30 minutes before surgical incision, with a second dose administered near the end of the procedure according to the medication half-life. The control group will receive no pre-surgical analgesic administration and will follow the institution's standard postoperative pain management protocol. Postoperative pain intensity will be measured using a validated pain scale at predetermined intervals during the postoperative period. Additional outcomes include postoperative analgesic requirements and patient satisfaction with pain control. By comparing two commonly used intravenous analgesic medications with standard care, this study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of preemptive analgesic strategies in improving postoperative pain outcomes and reducing analgesic consumption following orthognathic surgery.