Topical diclofenac patch relieves minor sports injury pain: Results of a multicenter controlled clinical trial

Sports-related soft tissue injuries, such as sprains, strains, and contusio ns, are a common painful condition. Current treatment includes oral nonster iodal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which have a high incidence of into lerable gastrointestinal side effects. This study assessed the efficacy and safety of topical diclofenac (NSAID) patch applied directly to the painful injury site for the treatment of acute minor sports injury pain. Adult sub jects (N = 222) were recruited form two communities for a multicenter, rand omized, placebo-controlled, parallel design study. All subjects had suffere d a painful minor sports injury within the prior 72 hours of study entry. E ither a diclofenac epolamine or placebo topical patch was applied directly to the skin overlying the painful injured site twice daily for 2 weeks. Mea sures of pain intensity were performed in a daily diary and at clinic visit s on days 3, 7, and 14. Diclofenac patch was superior to placebo patch in r elieving pain. Statistical significance was seen on clinic days 3 (P = 0.03 6) and 14 (P = 0.048), as well as the daily diary pain ratings at days 3, 7 , and 14 (P less than or equal to 0.044). No statistically significant diff erences were seen in any safety or side-effect measures with the diclofenac patch as compared to the placebo patch. Diclofenac epolamine patch is an e ffective and safe pain reliever for treatment of minor sports injury pain. The advantages of this novel therapy include its ease of use and lack of sy stemic side effects. J Pain Symptom Manage 2000;19:287-294. (C) U.S. Cancer Pain Relief Committee, 2000.