Abstract
Objectives:
Examine the efficacy of three separate pain regimen groups for patients who have undergone tonsillectomies by multiple otolaryngologic surgeons at one institution.
Methods:
This study was an institutional review board (IRB) approved prospective randomized cohort study comparing the efficacy of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), acetaminophen/hydrocodone, and acetaminophen/codeine for post-operative tonsillectomy pain control. Setting: A tertiary referral hospital. Patients of any age undergoing tonsillectomy from June 2011 until the present were randomized into one of three post-op pain regimen groups. All tonsillectomy procedures were performed using the same technique, no preoperative local anesthetic injections were given, and no post-operative antibiotics were provided. Patients/families were given a packet of information to complete that included pain control, time to return to diet, school/work, and baseline activity. Pain control was measured using a validated faces pain scale as well as the amount of drug being administered.
Results:
Eighty-five patients were enrolled in the study, and twenty-four patients completed the study packet: 11 patients from the ibuprofen arm, 7 patients from the acetaminophen/hydrocodone arm, and 6 patients from the acetaminophen/codeine arm. The preliminary data were analyzed with Kruskal-Wallis tests and demonstrated no significant difference in time to return to regular diet (p =0.867), time to return to work (p=0.849), or time to return to work/school (p=0.915).
Conclusions:
These preliminary results demonstrate efficacy of all three pain modalities with no significant difference in returning to pre-operative function.
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