Ketoprofen 75 mg qid versus acetaminophen 1000 mg qid for 3 days on swelling, pain, and other postoperative events after third-molar surgery.

A randomized, double-blind, within-patient, crossover study was carried out after bilateral "identical" surgical procedures using local anesthesia only. A 3-day tablet regime of racemic ketoprofen 75 mg or acetaminophen 1000 mg qid (x 4) was given starting 3 hours after surgery. Ketoprofen reduced objectively measured swelling 27.8% (p < 0.04) better than acetaminophen 3 days after surgery and 70.8% (p < 0.02) better than acetaminophen 6 days after surgery. The pain intensity (PI) was lower after ketoprofen than after acetaminophen from 2 to 6 hours after the first drug intake (all p-values < or = 0.03). Sum PI during the first (SUMPI3.5-6, p = 0.003) and second dose intervals (SUMPI6.5-9, p = 0.007) was lower for ketoprofen than for acetaminophen but not different for the third dose interval (SUMPI9.5-11, p = 0.53). Ketoprofen was a more effective analgesic than acetaminophen on the day of surgery (SUMPI3.5-11, p = 0.005). There was no difference (p > 0.05) between the treatments with respect to mouth opening, drug preference, global evaluation, or adverse reports. Adverse reports included stomach pain and diarrhea in both treatment groups. Ketoprofen 75 mg x 4 for 3 days reduces subjectively assessed pain and objectively measured swelling (i.e., anti-inflammatory effect) following third-molar surgery.