Applicability of visual-analogue scale in patients with orofacial pain

Abstract

Introduction Orofacial pain occurs in various disorders of the orofacial region. Objective The aim of this study was to examine applicability of the visual-analogue scale (VAS) in patients with orofacial pain (model of acute and chronic pain). Methods The study involved 60 patients, aged 18-70 years. The first group consisted of patients with dentin hypersensitivity, and the second group of patients with chronic rhinosinusitis. All patients were asked to fill-in a pain questionnaire and to rate pain intensity on the modified visual analogue scale (VAS; 0-10). Air indexing method was performed in the patients with dentin hypersensitivity in order to provoke pain, while the patients with chronic rhinosinusitis underwent CT imaging of paranasal sinuses. Wilcoxon's test and Pearson's correlation coefficient were used for statistical analysis. Results In patients with dentin hypersensitivity provocation increased subjective feeling of pain, but without statistical significance (t=164.5; p>0.05). In patients with chronic rhinosinusitis a significant statistical correlation (r=0.53; p<0.05) was found between subjective pain assessment of VAS and CT findings. Conclusion Applying VAS in the evaluation of acute and chronic pain can indicate progression or regression of pathological state under clinical conditions. This study showed that VAS, as a method for follow-up of athological state, is more applicable and efficient when applied in chronic pain evaluation.