Abstract

The anti-inflammatory effects of ibuprofen and tramadol were investigated by measuring C-reactive protein concentrations after removal of an impacted lower third molar. Forty-five American Society of Anesthesiologists Class I patients were randomly categorized into 3 equal groups according to postoperative analgesic medication. The first group received tramadol (100 mg every 8 hours), the second group received ibuprofen (400 mg every 8 hours), and the last group received half doses of both drugs in combination (50 mg tramadol every 8 hours and 200 mg ibuprofen every 8 hours). C-reactive protein was measured before surgery to exclude the presence of any preexisting inflammatory condition that might interfere with the study. C-reactive protein was also determined immediately after surgery and 72 hours postoperatively. At 72 hours, C-reactive protein had increased over postsurgery baseline by 123% in the tramadol group (P < .001), 84% in the ibuprofen group (P < .001), and only 37% in the combined analgesic group (P = .078). These results suggest that tramadol may produce supra-additive anti-inflammatory effects with ibuprofen after third-molar extractions.