Table 3.
Pain scale and outcome with regard to NSAIDs treatment
| Author(s) | Outcome measures(s) | Average change in pain score (0–100) [%change from baseline]a | Average change in mouth opening (mm) | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| de Carli et al. ( 2013 ) | Visual analogue scale 0–100 and maximum opening (mm) |
Laser with NSAID: −19.36 (P < .0001) [64.5%] NSAID alone: −25.8 (P < .0001) [79.1%] |
Laser with NSAID: +0.86 (P = .4273) NSAID alone: +1.17 (P = .1735) |
VAS recording upon palpation or spontaneous pain not differentiated in the study |
| Marini et al. ( 2012 ) | Visual analogue scale 0–100 (self‐reported) and maximum opening (mm) | NSAID: −31.00 [45.3%] | NSAID: +2.13 | No statistical analysis of change in the same group of NSAID and PEA done. Statistical difference between PEA and NSAID conducted alone, with PEA giving significant higher amount of reduction in pain |
| Mejersjo and Wenneberg ( 2008 ) | Visual analogue scale 0–100 and maximum opening (mm) |
On movement: −62.00 (P < .01) [66.7%] On palpation: −42.00 (P < .01) [84.0%] |
Maximum: +6.00 (P < .01) | Have not mentioned if the mouth opening measured was with pain or pain free |
| Ta and Dionne ( 2004 ) | Visual analogue scale 0–100 and maximum opening (mm) |
Celecoxib: −21.08 (P < .01) [42.2%] Naproxen: −33.05 (P < .01) [73.8%] |
Celecoxib:+8.22 (P < .01) Naproxen: +12.5 (P < .01) |
|
| Thie et al. ( 2001 ) | Visual analogue scale 1–100 and maximum opening (mm) |
On movement: −5.93 (P < .001) [26.2%] On palpation: −4.33 (P < .001) [55.4%] |
Pain free: +8.39 (P < .001) Voluntary: +4.06 (P < .001) |
|
| Yuasa and Kurita ( 2001 ) | Visual analogue scale 0–100 and maximum opening (mm) | On movement: −23.5 (P < .001) [45.6%] | Maximum: +8.5 (P < .001) | Patient's with more severe TMJ dysfunction scores responded better to treatment. Have not mentioned if the mouth opening measured was with pain or pain free |
| Di Rienzo Businco et al. ( 2004 ) | Visual analogue scale 1–10 (self‐reported)b and maximum opening (mm) |
Topical NSAID: −61.0 [84.7%] Oral NSAID: −59.0 [83.1%] |
Maximum on a VAS (0–5 where five is maximum opening and zero is difficulty opening): ‐ Topical NSAID: +0.7 ‐ Oral NSAID: +1.0 |
Nil significant difference between oral and topical NSAID found. No statistical analysis within‐group pre‐ and post‐op done. Nil data on actual measurement of mouth opening |
| Ekberg et al. ( 1996 ) | Visual analogue scale 0–100 |
Statistically significant reduction in frequency of pain No statistically significant difference between placebo and NSAID for severity of pain Tenderness to palpation of muscles had statistically significant greater reduction than placebo |
No statistically significant difference between placebo and NSAID | No VAS values reported, although reported that they were measured. It is reported that the diagnosis and assessment did not include assessment of noninflammatory origin of pain, clouding the reliability of results |
| Kurita Varoli et al. ( 2015 ) | Visual analogue scale 0–10 | Actual values not reported. However, change in both NSAID (one diclofenac and two was a combination with acetaminophen, diclofenac, carisoprodol, and caffeine). Statistically significant difference in VAS for both formulas reported; however, no difference between placebo and the two formula groups | Mouth opening not assessed | All patients received occlusal splint therapy, including the placebo group. Therefore, the difference between NSAID and placebo group was not a reliable mode of comparison. It is therefore found that occlusal splint therapy also reduced VAS scores but NSAID treatment did not significantly improve the reduction |
| Lobo et al. ( 2004 ) | Numerical graphic rating scale (NGRS) 0–10 point scale | −1.26, i.e., 12.6% reduction (P < .01 but >.001) | Mouth opening not assessed | Theraflex‐TMJ contains methyl salicylate, copper pyrocarboxylate, and zinc pyrocarboxylate |
| Singer and Dionne ( 1997 ) | Visual analogue scale 1–100, McGill pain questionnaire, and maximum opening (mm) |
Ibuprofen alone: −2.2 (P < .05) [14.2%] Ibuprofen and diazepam combination: −2.1 (P < .05) [16.4%] |
Statistically insignificant results. Ibuprofen alone: +1.7 mm Ibuprofen and diazepam combination: −0.7 mm |
Abbreviations: NSAIDs, nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs; VAS, visual analogue scale.
%Change has been calculated as per follows: [Final score − initial score]/initial score × 100.
The VAS scores have been adjusted to 0–100, although not exactly representative, this allowed for comparison between studies.