Psychological predictors explaining postoperative pain after third molar surgery

The influence of pain catastrophizing, state anxiety, need for information and depression on postoperative pain intensity and functional recovery at home after surgical third molar removal under anesthesia: a prospective observational cohort study

Status

Active, not recruiting

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Observational

Source

ISRCTN

Registry ID

ISRCTN15227371

Enrollment

145

Registered

2022-03-08

Start date

2022-03-15

Completion date

Unknown

Last updated

2023-05-22

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Postoperative pain and functional recovery after ambulatory surgery for third molar extraction Surgery

Interventions

This is a prospective observational cohort study. Postoperative pain and functional recovery will be assessed during the first 7 days and at day 14 after ambulatory surgery for third molar extraction.

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

All

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: 1. Patients aged 18 – 40 years undergoing extraction of one or more third molars under general anaesthesia in the ZNA Middelheim/Jan Palfijn hospital 2. American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status (ASA I-II) 3. A good understanding of the Dutch language 4. Written informed consent 5. Without premedication

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria: 1. Refusal to participate 2. Patients with a known development delay and intellectual disability 3. Intolerance for local anesthetics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) 4. Chronic use of opioids

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
1. Postoperative pain measured using the Visual Analogue Scale – Pain (VAS-P) three times during the day of surgery (immediate postoperative, during the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) stay and at 8 PM at home) and from day 1 up to day 7 postoperatively twice a day (at 8 AM and 8 PM) 2. Functional recovery measured using the Functional Recovery Index (FRI) once a day from day 1 up to day 7 postoperatively	—

Measure

Time frame

1. Postoperative pain measured using the Visual Analogue Scale – Pain (VAS-P) three times during the day of surgery (immediate postoperative, during the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) stay and at 8 PM at home) and from day 1 up to day 7 postoperatively twice a day (at 8 AM and 8 PM) 2. Functional recovery measured using the Functional Recovery Index (FRI) once a day from day 1 up to day 7 postoperatively

—

Secondary

Measure	Time frame
1. Pain catastrophizing measured using the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS), preoperative at the day of the intervention 2. State anxiety measured using the Amsterdam Preoperative Anxiety and Information Scale (APAIS), preoperative at the day of the intervention 3. Need for information measured using the Amsterdam Preoperative Anxiety and Information Scale (APAIS), preoperative at the day of the intervention preoperatively 4. Depressive thoughts measured using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), preoperative at the day of the intervention	—

Measure

Time frame

1. Pain catastrophizing measured using the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS), preoperative at the day of the intervention 2. State anxiety measured using the Amsterdam Preoperative Anxiety and Information Scale (APAIS), preoperative at the day of the intervention 3. Need for information measured using the Amsterdam Preoperative Anxiety and Information Scale (APAIS), preoperative at the day of the intervention preoperatively 4. Depressive thoughts measured using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), preoperative at the day of the intervention

—

Countries

Belgium

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ISRCTN (via WHO ICTRP) · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026