DICLOFENAC FOR PAIN RELIEF AFTER ARTHROSCOPY - A COMPARISON OF EARLY AND DELAYED TREATMENT

The effect of diclofenac on pain after arthroscopy of the knee joint w as investigated in 64 patients. The aim of this double-blind, placebo- controlled, randomised study was to compare administration before surg ery with delayed treatment. The effect on postoperative pain was evalu ated by means of a Visual Analogue Scale and recording of the need for additional analgesics postoperatively. After surgery, hourly assessme nts were performed within 6 h after the anaesthetic block (approximate ly 5 h after start of surgery), and on the morning after surgery. Both treatment with diclofenac before surgery and delayed treatment were s uperior to placebo concerning pain scores within 6 h after onset of an aesthesia (P<0.0065 and P<0.0005, respectively). On the morning after surgery, only delayed treatment was superior to placebo (P<0.02). No d ifferences in pain scores were evident between the different groups tr eated with diclofenac. No differences in the need for additional analg esics were found.