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Status unknownNCT05142098Updated Dec 16, 2021

Comparison of the Anti-Inflammatory Efficacy of Preemptive Dexamethasone and Etoricoxib

An Early Phase 1 interventional study of Dexamethasone and Etoricoxib 60 mg in Effect of Drug, sponsored by Dow University of Health Sciences. Status unknown. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 35 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2021-12-16.

Sponsored by Dow University of Health Sciences · Early Phase 1, Interventional, and Treatment

The sponsor has not verified this record recently (last verified Dec 2021), so the status shown — last known as Not yet recruiting — may be out of date.
Phase
Early Phase 1
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
170
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years to 35 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

Impaction of mandibular third molars is a commonly encountered problem in oral surgery; patients frequently visit dental OPDs with complains related to the impacted molars, and in almost all situations, surgical removal of these impactions is the definitive treatment provided to such patients. This type of surgery often involves osteotomies and tooth sectioning, that initiates acute inflammatory responses which results in significant amount of postoperative discomfort owing to the associated pain, swelling and trismus; which considerably affects the quality of life that may span from days up to weeks in few instances. In the past decades, different group of medications have been used to counter these adverse postoperative sequelae, such as steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (SAIDs) and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

MATERIAL AND METHODS:

Study design: Randomized, double-blind, clinical trial with a split-mouth design.

Setting: The study would be conducted at Oral \& Maxillofacial Surgery department, Dr. Ishrat-ul-Ebad Khan Institute of Oral Health Sciences, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi.

Duration of study: Six months after the approval of synopsis. Sample size: A total of 170 patients would be included in the study, i.e. 85 in each group with 2 patients as a drop out.

Calculated sample size is 83 patients per group; utilizing Pass version 11 software with 95% confidence interval, mean ± S.D of swelling in dexamethasone group1 95.7 ± 11.1 and in etoricoxib group1 100.0 ± 8.3 at measurement 5.

Sampling technique: Purposive non-probability sampling technique would be used for the selection of patients.

Sample selection: Patients meeting the following criteria would be included in the study: 1. Age 18-35 years. 2. Absence of any systemic disease. 3. Mandibular third molars in similar position with similar root formation. 3. No use of any medication in last 03 days. 4. Absence of allergy to any drug used in the study. 5. Surgical site with no current signs or symptoms of infection.

Patients meeting any of the following criteria would be excluded from the study: 1. Pregnancy or lactation. 2. History of gastrointestinal bleeding or peptic ulcer. 3. Current smoking habit.

Read the detailed description

Impaction of mandibular third molars is a commonly encountered problem in oral surgery; patients frequently visit dental OPDs with complains related to the impacted molars, and in almost all situations, surgical removal of these impactions is the definitive treatment provided to such patients. This type of surgery often involves osteotomies and tooth sectioning, that initiates acute inflammatory responses which results in significant amount of postoperative discomfort owing to the associated pain, swelling and trismus; which considerably affects the quality of life that may span from days up to weeks in few instances. In the past decades, different group of medications have been used to counter these adverse postoperative sequelae, such as steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (SAIDs) and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

Owing to its predominant glucocorticosteroid effects, minimal sodium retention activity and long half-life, dexamethasone remains the most popular drug used in third molar surgery. And with the advantages of fewer gastrointestinal side effects, not disturbing platelet function and being well tolerated, the selective COX-2 inhibitor, Etoricoxib, is a suitable analgesic for the treatment of acute pain.

Lima et al2 concluded in their study that preemptive administration of dexamethasone showed better control of pain and swelling following impacted third molar extraction. Gaetano et al3 showed a greater reduction in incidence and severity of postoperative pain treated with etoricoxib compared with diclofenac, in impacted third molar surgery. Despite a lot of research related to the efficacy of dexamethasone and etoricoxib as preemptive drugs in controlling the postoperative sequelae, there is a negligible amount of research material available comparing the efficacy of these two anti-inflammatory drugs, therefore, the purpose of this study is to compare the preemptive anti-inflammatory effects of dexamethasone administered intramuscularly into the medial pterygoid muscle immediately after local anesthesia, with Etroicoxib given orally 1 hour prior to the surgery.

RATIONALE:

This study would help the clinicians in better understanding the anti-inflammatory consequences associated with a common oral surgical procedure. The results of this study would greatly enhance understanding about which drug to prescribe for the better control of anti-inflammatory sequelae of impacted third molar surgery, thereby, avoiding unnecessary drug prescriptions which would be ultimately beneficial for the patient undergoing treatment.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to compare the preemptive anti-inflammatory efficacy of dexamethasone administered intramuscularly with etoricoxib given orally, following the impacted third molar surgery.

MATERIAL AND METHODS:

Study design: Randomized, double-blind, clinical trial with a split-mouth design.

Setting: The study would be conducted at Oral \& Maxillofacial Surgery department, Dr. Ishrat-ul-Ebad Khan Institute of Oral Health Sciences, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi.

Duration of study: Six months after the approval of synopsis. Sample size: A total of 170 patients would be included in the study, i.e. 85 in each group with 2 patients as a drop out.

Calculated sample size is 83 patients per group; utilizing Pass version 11 software with 95% confidence interval, mean ± S.D of swelling in dexamethasone group1 95.7 ± 11.1 and in etoricoxib group1 100.0 ± 8.3 at measurement 5.

Sampling technique: Purposive non-probability sampling technique would be used for the selection of patients.

Sample selection: Patients meeting the following criteria would be included in the study: 1. Age 18-35 years. 2. Absence of any systemic disease. 3. Mandibular third molars in similar position with similar root formation. 3. No use of any medication in last 03 days. 4. Absence of allergy to any drug used in the study. 5. Surgical site with no current signs or symptoms of infection.

Patients meeting any of the following criteria would be excluded from the study: 1. Pregnancy or lactation. 2. History of gastrointestinal bleeding or peptic ulcer. 3. Current smoking habit.

02

Conditions studied

  • Effect of Drug
03

In context

Lead sponsor

Dow University of Health Sciences is the lead sponsor of 170 studies on the registry; 30 are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 35 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

  1. Age 18-35 years.
  2. Absence of any systemic disease.
  3. Mandibular third molars in similar position with similar root formation.
  1. No use of any medication in last 03 days. 4. Absence of allergy to any drug used in the study. 5. Surgical site with no current signs or symptoms of infection.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Pregnancy or lactation.
  2. History of gastrointestinal bleeding or peptic ulcer.
  3. Current smoking habit.
  4. Patient encountering any complication during/after procedure.
05

Study design

Phase
Early Phase 1
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
170 participants (estimated)

Study arms

  • Active comparator
    Dexamethasone

    Dexamethasone 4mg will be injected intramuscularly into the pterygomandibular space after achieving effective inferior dental block.

    Drug: Dexamethasone

  • Experimental
    Etoricoxib

    2 tablets 60mg each would be given orally one hour prior to the surgery.

    Drug: Etoricoxib 60 mg

Interventions

  • DrugDexamethasone

    Intramuscular

    Also known as: Glucocorticoid

  • DrugEtoricoxib 60 mg

    Orally

    Also known as: Cox-2 Inhibitor

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. assessment of post operative complications after dexamethasone

    dexamethasone is more effective in controlling post operative pain, swelling and trismus following impacted third molar surgery.

    Time frame: within one week after procedure

  2. assessment of post operative complications after etoricoxib

    Etoricoxib is more effective in controlling post operative pain, swelling and trismus following impacted third molar surgery.

    Time frame: within one week after procedure

07

Study locations

No study locations are listed for this record.

08

References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No

No publications or documents are linked to this record.

09

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Dec 16, 2021, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT05142098
Lead sponsor
Dow University of Health Sciences
Responsible party
Hassan Hafeez (Principal Investigator, Dow University of Health Sciences) — Principal investigator
First posted
Dec 2, 2021
Start date
Jan 1, 2022 (estimated)
Primary completion
Jul 1, 2022 (estimated)
Completion
Aug 1, 2022 (estimated)
Last update
Dec 16, 2021

Study contacts

HASSAN HAFEEZ
Contact
hassankhandentist@gmail.com
03332726607
HASSAN HAFEEZ
Contact
hassankhandentist@gmail.com
03138556993
hassan hafeez
principal investigator · DUHS

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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