title: Anti-inflammatory drug therapy after arthroscopy of the knee. A prospective, randomised, controlled trial of diclofenac or physiotherapy.
abstract: We report a prospective, randomised, controlled trial of the effect of either a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (diclofenac sodium) or physiotherapy on the recovery of knee function after arthroscopy. At 42 days after surgery there was no significant benefit from either form of postoperative treatment compared with the control group. Complications attributable to the anti-inflammatory drug occurred in 9.6% of the patients so treated. Neither the routine administration of a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent nor routine physiotherapy is justified after arthroscopy of the knee.
authors.affiliation: Solihull Hospital, West Midlands, England, UK.
authors.forename: N C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Birch
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sly
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Brooks
authors.forename: D P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Powles
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001182:Arthroscopy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D004008:Diclofenac / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D004008:Diclofenac