BIPHENYLACETIC ACID (FELBINAC)3-PERCENT GEL TID IN PATIENTS WITH ACUTE SOFT-TISSUE INJURIES

Biphenylacetic acid (BPAA) or felbinac is a metabolite of fenbufen and is used in a 3% gel as a topical NSAID. A post-marketing surveillance study was performed in Belgium with this formulation in the ambulator y treatment of patients with acute soft tissue trauma; 1,256 patients, aged between 16 and 70, with acute soft tissue trauma, complaining of moderate to severe pain, either at rest or on movement, were enrolled by 310 sports doctors and/or general practitioners and treated for 7 days. Patients were asked to describe their levels of pain (at rest, w hen moving, during the night) and the influence of their injuries upon their professional lives and leisure activities (10-point categorical scales). Most injuries were contusions and sprains of the ankle or kn ee. 77.7% of 964 patients evaluable for efficacy judged the treatment good to excellent. The chances of success were higher when, at baselin e, the injury was described as severe or moderate. Only 22 patients (1 .6% of the patients evaluable for local tolerability) mentioned a loca l reaction. The most frequent complaints were pruritus and erythema. G lobal tolerability was judged good to excellent by 96.4% of patients. The results of this study confirm previous reports showing that BPAA 3 % gel is safe and effective in the treatment of acute soft tissue trau ma.