The effects of tramadol added to articaine on anesthesia duration.

OBJECTIVE: In this study the effect of tramadol added to articaine on the duration of anesthetic effect in a mandibular blockade was evaluated. STUDY DESIGN: A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial with patients experiencing pain after removal of an impacted mandibular third molar was conducted. Patients were randomly allocated into 2 groups: group C (n = 24), control (C), articaine 4%, 1:100:000 epinephrine, 1.5 cartridges (2.7 mL) and saline (1 mL) into surgical site; group T, articaine 4%, 1:100:000 epinephrine, 1.5 cartridges (2.7 mL) and tramadol (T) 50 mg (1 mL) into the surgical site. The difficulty of the removal procedure, duration of the operation, and sensory blockade were also evaluated. RESULTS: The duration of the anesthetic effect elicited by articaine in group T (246.0; 140-287) was significantly longer than that in group C (124.5; 79-154 min). CONCLUSION: Tramadol can be used as an adjunctive drug in the management of pain since it improves the quality of transoperative anesthesia.