Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields for Postoperative Pain: a Linical Trial in Humans

Introduction: Pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy is a noninvasive method for delivering pulsed radiofrequency energy to tissues to treat postoperative pain and edema. This randomized clinical trial was designed to assess the clinical efficacy of PEMF delivered with a wearable device in terms of postoperative pain and quality of healing after mandibular third molar extraction.

Materials and methods: The sample included 120 patients undergoing unilateral mandibular third molar extraction. At the end of the surgical procedure, patients were randomly assigned to a test (T) or placebo (P) group and fitted with enabled or disabled PEMF devices, respectively, or to a control (C) group not fitted with a PEMF device. The devices were positioned over the area corresponding to the extraction site and wearers were asked to keep them in place for 7 days. All patients were asked to record pain (on a visual analog scale [VAS]), hours of wearing the device (groups T and P), and any use of analgesics. At 7 days, healing complications (dehiscence, tumefaction, pus, local lymphadenopathy, pain on palpation, postoperative bleeding, alveolitis) were recorded blindly.

Inclusion criteria

• patients who needs third molar extraction,
• good oral hygiene,
• no contraindications to treatment.

Exclusion criteria

• age under 14 years;
• poor oral hygiene (plaque index less then 20%);
• contraindications for surgery (or anesthesia);
• infectious or systemic diseases;
• immunosuppressant therapy;
• pregnancy or breastfeeding;
• mental disorders.