Pain practice : the official journal of World Institute of Pain
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Subcutaneous Injection of Diclofenac for the Treatment of Pain Following Minor Orthopedic Surgery (DIRECT study): A Randomized Trial.
Parenteral diclofenac is frequently used for analgesia following minor orthopedic interventions. Currently available diclofenac formulations are for intramuscular (IM) or intravenous injection. A new 1 mL volume formulation of diclofenac containing hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HPβCD) allows both SC and IM administration. The objective of this open-label, randomized, parallel group, active-controlled study was to assess the safety and efficacy of 75 mg diclofenac HPβCD, administered SC or IM, compared with IM Voltaren® 75 mg in inpatients undergoing minor orthopedic surgeries with moderate-to-severe postoperative pain. ⋯ Overall, the study results indicate that safety and efficacy were similar irrespective of the diclofenac formulation used; thus, the new SC diclofenac HPβCD has an acceptable tolerability profile and may be considered a valid alternative to IM-delivered diclofenac formulations.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Effects of Topical Diclofenac Plus Heparin (Dhep+H Plaster) on Somatic Pain Sensitivity in Healthy Subjects With a Latent Algogenic Condition of the Lower Limb.
To evaluate whether a diclofenac epolamine + heparin topical (plaster) is more effective than diclofenac plaster alone in reducing deep somatic hyperalgesia in subjects without spontaneous pain and whether the effect is linked to or independent of the anti-edematous action of heparin. ⋯ Topical diclofenac+heparin is significantly more effective than diclofenac alone in reducing muscle hyperalgesia in subjects without spontaneous pain, independently of the anti-edematous action of heparin. The results provide a rationale for the use of diclofenac+heparin also in algogenic conditions without evident signs of injury/edema/hematoma.