Abstract

A method of measuring the effectiveness of analgesics using a new instrument, known as the Algesiometer,* is described. The instrument, utilizing an electrical stimulus, produced an experimental pain when attached to the skin over the mid shaft of the tibia. The patient, who was experiencing a pathological pain, gradually increased the experimental stimulus, by turning a control rheostat, until it was equal in intensity to the pathological, or clinical, pain. The intensity of the stimulus was calculated in milliwatts and consisted of a rectangular wave pulsating direct current of approximately one millisecond duration and an interval of nineteen milliseconds.

Following an initial equilibration, an analgesic study was conducted on two successive mornings using either APC (aspirin 210 mg., phenacetin 150 mg., caffeine 30 mg.) with codeine 30 mg. or a placebo in a double blind study. Measurements were taken at intervals over a four hour period and the change in the pain intensity level was recorded. A subjective response was also elicited from the patient at each interval in terms of mild, moderate, intense, or severe pain.

The results of these determinations are given for five patients. They were all men, ranging in age from seventeen to thirty-five years, who had experienced fractures in the lower extremities due to trauma. Over the first one-half hour interval, a statistically significant difference was found in a comparison of the effectiveness of APC with codeine 30 mg. and the placebo. After this interval the significance was lost. A consistent correlation of the subjective response with the measured pain level could not be established.

It is felt that with a larger patient sample number it may be possible to extend the statistical significance into longer time intervals, and the relation of the subjective response to the measured pain level might be more clearly determined.

__________________________________

*Developed by Fundamental Products Company, P.O. Box 1102, Studio City, California. 91604

Department

Dentistry

School

Graduate School

First Advisor

Bernard C. Byrd

Second Advisor

Guy M. Hunt

Third Advisor

Ivan R. Neilsen

Fourth Advisor

Bernard E. Tilton

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Degree Level

M.S.

Year Degree Awarded

1969

Date (Title Page)

6-1969

Language

English

Library of Congress/MESH Subject Headings

Dental Instruments; Analgesics

Type

Thesis

Page Count

vi; 57

Digital Format

PDF

Digital Publisher

Loma Linda University Libraries

Usage Rights

This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights.

Collection

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Collection Website

http://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/

Repository

Loma Linda University. Del E. Webb Memorial Library. University Archives

Download

Share

COinS