title: Topical ketoprofen TDS patch versus diclofenac gel: efficacy and tolerability in benign sport related soft-tissue injuries.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the ketoprofen TDS patch with diclofenac gel in the treatment of traumatic acute pain in benign sport-related soft-tissue injuries.
  
  
  METHODS
  7-14 treatment days, prospective, randomised, open study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Outpatients aged 18-70 years diagnosed for painful benign sport-related soft-tissue injury (sprains, strains and contusions within the prior 48 h), randomised to either ketoprofen patch 100 mg once daily (n = 114) or diclofenac gel 2-4 g three times daily (n = 109).
  
  
  METHODS
  7-14 days of topical non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs treatment to assess the pain intensity changes (daily activities and spontaneous at rest) in a daily diary (100-mm Visual Analogue Scale (VAS)).
  
  
  METHODS
  Pain intensity (VAS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The ketoprofen patch was not inferior to diclofenac gel in reducing the baseline pain during daily activities (difference of -1.17 mm in favour of ketoprofen patch, 95% CI (-5.86 to 3.52), reducing to the baseline VAS 79%. Ketoprofen patch presented also a higher cure rate (64%) than diclofenac gel (46%) at day 7 (p = 0.004). Patient opinions about the treatment comfort (pharmaceutical shape, application and dosage) were also statistically higher for the ketoprofen patch (>80% of the patients rated as good or excellent the patch removal and skin adherence).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ketoprofen patches are effective and safe pain relievers for the treatment of sports injury pain with advantages compared with diclofenac gel.
authors.affiliation: Centro Médico Juan XXIII, Murcia, Spain. fesparza@pdi.ucam.edu
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Esparza
authors.forename: César
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cobián
authors.forename: José Fernando
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Jiménez
authors.forename: Juan José
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: García-Cota
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sánchez
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maestro
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004008:Diclofenac / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005782:Gels; D006801:Humans; D007660:Ketoprofen / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017695:Soft Tissue Injuries / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D005782:Gels; D004008:Diclofenac; D007660:Ketoprofen