SHORT-TERM TOPICAL PIROXICAM HAS NO ANTIINFLAMMATORY OR ANTINOCICEPTIVE EFFECTS AFTER BURN INJURY

Identical burn injuries were induced on both calves with a 49-degrees- C 15 x 25 mm thermode in 12 normal volunteers. Piroxicam gel 0.5% or p lacebo (1 gm) was applied in a double-blind and randomized manner on e ach leg 90 minutes before and immediately after the burn injury. The r esults showed that piroxicam 0.5% gel had no effect on initial 6-hour postburn changes in heat pain detection thresholds, heat pain toleranc e, mechanical (Von Frey hair) pain thresholds, area of secondary hyper algesia, or degree of inflammation assessed by a skin reflectance spec trometer.