Preemptive analgesia is analgesia given before the painful stimulus begins. The reason for giving analgesia before the painful stimulus is to prevent or reduce subsequent pain. This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of tramadol given before or immediately after surgical extraction of an impacted mandibular third molar under local anesthesia. Patients were randomized into three groups of treatment: Group A, tramadol preoperative, group B, tramadol postoperative, and group C, control. We evaluated intensity of pain and analgesic consumption as was requested. Pain measured as complete relief of pain showed a trend towards support of the preoperative tramadol administration. A significant reduction in the consumption of analgesics was seen in the preoperative group as compared to the postoperative and control groups.
