title: Diclofenac for pain relief after arthroscopy: a comparison of early and delayed treatment.
abstract: The effect of diclofenac on pain after arthroscopy of the knee joint was investigated in 64 patients. The aim of this double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised study was to compare administration before surgery with delayed treatment. The effect on postoperative pain was evaluated by means of a Visual Analogue Scale and recording of the need for additional analgesics postoperatively. After surgery, hourly assessments were performed within 6 h after the anaesthetic block (approximately 5 h after start of surgery), and on the morning after surgery. Both treatment with diclofenac before surgery and delayed treatment were superior to placebo concerning pain scores within 6 h after onset of anaesthesia (P < 0.0065 and P < 0.0005, respectively). On the morning after surgery, only delayed treatment was superior to placebo (P < 0.02). No differences in pain scores were evident between the different groups treated with diclofenac. No differences in the need for additional analgesics were found.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia, Länssjukhuset, Kalmar, Sweden.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sandin
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Sternlo
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Stam
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Brodd
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Björkman
mesh_terms: D001182:Arthroscopy / Q000009:adverse effects; D004008:Diclofenac / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D004008:Diclofenac