4
Management
Table 2. Duration of Analgesia Use and Severity of Pain After
Common Otolaryngology Surgeries
Procedure
Expected Duration
of Pain
Expected Severity
of Pain
Adult
Tonsillectomy 10–14 days Moderate–Severe
Mandibular fracture repair 3–5 days Mild–Moderate
Midface fracture repair 2–4 days Mild–Moderate
Septoplasty 2–5 days Mild–Moderate
Rhinoplasty 2–5 days Mild–Moderate
Endoscopic sinus surgery 3–5 days Mild–Moderate
Turbinate surgery 1–3 days Mild–Moderate
Otologic surgery 2–4 days Mild–Moderate
yroid surgery 1–3 days Mild–Moderate
Parathyroidectomy 1–3 days Mild
Parotidectomy 3–5 days Mild–Moderate
Cervical lymph node biopsy 1–3 days Mild
Microdirect laryngoscopy 1–3 days Mild
Adolescent (Age 12–18)
Adolescent tonsillectomy 5–10 days Moderate–Severe
Pediatric (Age 0–12)
Adenotonsillectomy 5–10 days Mild–Moderate
Adenoidectomy 1–2 days Mild
Myringotomy and tube placement 0 days Mild
Mild = unlikely to need opioid medication, Moderate = may need small amount of opioid
medication, severe = likely to need opioid medication for breakthrough pain.
