Efeitos da auriculoterapia no controle da dor pós-operatória em pacientes submetidos à exodontia de terceiros molares: estudo piloto

Abstract

Introduction: Third molar extraction is an invasive operation and has postoperative pain as the most frequently reported complaint. Auriculotherapy is a technique that promotes analgesia and treats dysfunctions through stimuli at auricular points. Objective: To analyze the efficacy of auriculotherapy treatment in the control of postoperative pain in volunteers who underwent an erupted third molar exodontia, comparing this therapy to a placebo group. Material and method: This is a double-blind, randomized, split-mouth, placebo-controlled trial of 25 volunteers who received two treatments. One of the treatments with intramuscular Dexamethasone 8 mg, Passiflora 500 mg and auriculotherapy and the other with intramuscular Dexamethasone 8 mg, Passiflora 500 mg and placebo auriculotherapy. The postoperative pain evaluation was performed using the Visual Analogue Scale without marking. Paracetamol 750 mg was prescribed as an escape medication to be administered every 6 hours in case of pain. After each intervention, the volunteers received a record to assess the intensity of pain and the need to use the escape medication, which was answered within 72 hours after surgery. Result: There were no statistically significant differences in most of the evaluated parameters. There was a decrease of pain only within the group treated with auriculotherapy after 72h when compared to the placebo group. Conclusion: There was no statistically significant difference between auriculotherapy treatment and the placebo for postoperative pain. Clinically, however, there was a significant response regarding the interventions associated with auriculotherapy treatment, with visible preference of the volunteers on this protocol.