A TRIAL WITH DICLOFENAC HEP PLASTER AS TOPICAL TREATMENT IN MINOR SPORT INJURIES

Diclofenac HEP plaster was tested in an open study in the treatment of different traumatic sport and overload injuries, to confirm the resul ts of efficacy and tolerability already shown in other clinical studie s. A total of 101 patients were assigned to treatment and were eligibl e for the evaluation of results at the end of a 14-day treatment perio d. The average score of spontaneous pain, assessed by means of a verba l scale and a visual analogical scale, showed, a clear difference in p ain rating between the beginning and end of treatment. In general 60% pain reduction was observed. The difference in analgesic activity was already apparent on the 7th day of treatment (-28%). The reduction of pain was confirmed by changes in another subjective sign related to th e injury: provoked pain. This symptom decreased in a manner comparable to spontaneous pain: 61% pain reduction after 2 weeks of treatment. G lobal assessment of efficacy, performed by the investigator at the end of treatment, showed the clear therapeutic activity of local treatmen t with diclofenac HEP plaster. Satisfactory results were obtained and only 18% of the patients (most of them with chronic and persistent pai n) experienced ineffective pain relief al the end of the 2-week treatm ent. The beneficial effects of diclofenac HEP plaster on pain are conf irmed by the patients' assessment, since almost identical scores were obtained. It is striking that the overall tolerance of diclofenac HEP plaster, applied topically twice a day for 2 weeks, was ''good'' or '' excellent'' in the 101 patients treated. Any side effect was reported on the patient's card and ail the patients completed the study.