The effects of melatonin prophylaxis on sensory recovery and postoperative pain following orthognathic surgery: a triple-blind randomized controlled trial and biochemical analysis.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to evaluate the efficacy of melatonin in improving nerve healing and reducing postoperative pain and numbness following orthognathic surgery.
Results Summary
Melatonin significantly reduced subjective pain by 50% in early postoperative days and numbness by 30% at 1 week, increasing to over 80% by 3 months. It also improved objective neurosensory function and antioxidant enzyme levels while reducing hydrogen peroxide concentration.
Population
Thirty randomly allocated orthognathic surgery patients.
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
21 consecutive days
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
melatonin | decrease | subjective pain perception | orthognathic patients | 50% | significantly reduce | #1 |
melatonin | decrease | subjective numbness perception | orthognathic patients | 30% | reduction | #2 |
melatonin | decrease | subjective numbness perception | orthognathic patients | over 80% | reduction | #3 |
melatonin | increase | healing profile | orthognathic patients | - | significant improvement | #4 |
melatonin | decrease | hydrogen peroxide concentration | orthognathic patients | - | was lower | #5 |
melatonin | increase | levels of antioxidant enzymes | orthognathic patients | - | were higher | #6 |
prophylactic administration of melatonin | decrease | postoperative pain | - | - | confers significant clinical benefits | #7 |
prophylactic administration of melatonin | decrease | opioid use | - | - | confers significant clinical benefits | #8 |
prophylactic administration of melatonin | increase | sensory recovery | - | - | confers significant clinical benefits | #9 |
Post-surgical neuropathy is a known complication of many surgical procedures for which few remedies are effective. This study used neurosensory assessments and biochemical assays to evaluate the efficacy of melatonin on nerve healing following orthognathic surgery. Thirty randomly allocated orthognathic patients were prophylactically administered either oral melatonin or identical placebo for 21 consecutive days. Pre- and post-surgical clinical parameters included subjective pain, numbness, and objective neurosensory function. Pre- and post-surgical biochemical parameters were serum hydrogen peroxide and antioxidant enzyme levels. Melatonin was found to significantly reduce subjective pain perception by 50% in the early postoperative days. A 30% reduction in subjective numbness perception was observed at 1-week postoperative, increasing to an over 80% reduction by 3 months postoperative (P<0.00001). Objective neurosensory testing showed a significant improvement in healing profile in the melatonin group. Postoperatively, the hydrogen peroxide concentration was lower in the melatonin group (P<0.00001), and the levels of antioxidant enzymes were higher (P<0.00001). The strong correlations between clinical outcomes and biochemical changes suggest a link between antioxidant effects and reduced postsurgical pain and sensory recovery. The study findings suggest that the prophylactic administration of melatonin confers significant clinical benefits in terms of reduced postoperative pain and opioid use and improved sensory recovery following surgery.