Efficacy of ketoprofen lysine salt and paracetamol/acetaminophen to reduce pain during rapid maxillary expansion: A randomized controlled clinical trial

BACKGROUND Rapid maxillary expansion (RME) is an orthopaedic procedure indicated for a wide variety of clinical conditions. AIM The aim of the study was to compare the effects of ketoprofen lysine salt (KLS) vs paracetamol/acetaminophen (P) on pain perception during RME. DESIGN One hundred and fifty-one subjects (mean age 8.6 year) were enrolled in this prospective controlled clinical trial according to inclusion criteria: prepuberal stage of development, negative posterior transverse interarch discrepancy, non-concurrent use of other drugs. First phase: n.40 allocated to Group 1 used 40 mg of KLS, n.40 to Group 2 used 250 mg of P, n.36 to Group 3 as control group. Second phase: n.35 allocated to Group 4 used 40 mg ketoprofen lysine salt once a day for the first 3 days of activation. Pain experience was reported on a numeric rating scale (0-4) and a 100-mm visual analogue scale. Pain perception was tested with the Mann-Whitney test (P