Topical ketorolac has no antinociceptive or anti-inflammatory effect in thermal injury.
This study investigated the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effect of a topical non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug in human thermal injury. Twelve healthy unmedicated volunteers had identical burn injuries produced on the medial side of both calves with a 49 degrees C 15 x 25 mm thermode. Ketorolac gel or placebo were randomly applied on the right or left calf 1.5 h before burn injury, immediately after burn injury and 6 and 12 h later in a double-blind trial where every subject served as his own control. Heat pain detection thresholds (HPDT), head pain tolerance (HPT), mechanical pain detection thresholds (MPDT) and the intensity of burn-induced erythema (erythema index, EI) were assessed in the area of the thermal injury, and areas of hyperalgesia to pin prick were determined outside the injury before and 3, 6 and 24 h after the burn injury. Burn injury led to a decrease in HPDT, HPT and MPDT, an increase in EI and development of mechanical hyperalgesia (P < 0.05). Ketorolac gel had no effect on any of the nociceptive or inflammatory variables studies (P > 0.2).
Møiniche
S
S
Department of Anaesthesiology and Surgical Gastroenterology, Hvidovre University Hospital, Denmark.
Pedersen
J L
JL
Kehlet
H
H
D000287:Administration, Topical; D000328:Adult; D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001768:Blister / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D002056:Burns / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004890:Erythema / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006930:Hyperalgesia / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D020910:Ketorolac; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D013997:Time Factors; D014046:Tolmetin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017211:Treatment Failure
D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D014046:Tolmetin; D020910:Ketorolac