The Effectiveness of Different Management Strategies in Postoperative Pain Following Maxillofacial Surgery: A Systematic Review

The objective of this systematic review was to evaluate the effectiveness of different pain management strategies in reducing postoperative pain following maxillofacial surgery. A comprehensive search of electronic databases was conducted to identify relevant studies. Twelve studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the qualitative data synthesis. Data were extracted and synthesized, focusing on the study characteristics, interventions, outcomes (Visual Analog Scale [VAS] scores and analgesia requirements), and conclusions. The included studies investigated various pharmacological interventions, including morphine, naproxen, codeine, diclofenac, tramadol, pregabalin, celecoxib, MgSO4, nalbuphine, and melatonin. The administration routes ranged from intravenous to oral, and the timing of administration varied from preoperative to postoperative periods. The findings showed that the effectiveness of the interventions varied. Some interventions, such as PCA (morphine) and naproxen, demonstrated comparable effectiveness with significantly lower VAS scores and analgesia requirements compared to codeine. Diclofenac and tramadol were also found to be effective in reducing pain, while other interventions did not yield significant differences compared to control groups or placebos. Combination therapies, such as pregabalin and celecoxib, showed significant reductions in VAS scores and analgesia requirements. However, there were variations in the results among the included studies. This systematic review highlights the diverse effectiveness of different pain management strategies in reducing postoperative pain following maxillofacial surgery. The findings suggest that individualized treatment plans tailored to patient characteristics and preferences are essential. Further research, including larger randomized controlled trials, is needed to optimize pain management approaches and enhance postoperative recovery in this patient population.