Postoperative analgesia in orthognathic surgery patients: diclofenac sodium or paracetamol?

Our aim was to compare the analgesic affects of paracetamol and the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) diclofenac sodium for the relief of postoperative pain in patients having bimaxillary osteotomy. Thirty patients were randomly allocated into two groups (n = 15 in each) using sealed envelopes. The first group was given paracetamol 1 g intravenously and the second diclofenac sodium 75 mg intramuscularly. The analgesics were given during the last 15 min of the operation while the mucosa was being sutured. The number of requests for further analgesia, and the amount of analgesia given postoperatively (as diclofenac sodium) were recorded. The intensity of postoperative pain was recorded on a visual analogue scale (VAS), and postoperative requests for analgesia, haemodynamic variables (systolic blood pressure and heart rate), and complications were compared. The groups were comparable. A single dose of diclofenac or paracetamol effectively decreases the intensity of postoperative pain after bimaxillary osteotomy.