Ketoprofen Gel Improves Low Back Pain in Addition to IV Dexketoprofen: A Randomized Placebo Controlled Trial

• Published in: The American journal of emergency medicine 2016-08, Vol.34 (8), p.1458-1461
• Main Authors: Serinken, Mustafa, MD, Eken, Cenker, MD, Tunay, Kamil, MD, Golcuk, Yalcin, MD
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Analgesics; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal - administration & dosage; Back pain; Confidence intervals; Double-Blind Method; Drug Therapy, Combination; Emergency; Emergency medical care; Emergency Service, Hospital; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Injections, Intravenous; Ketoprofen - administration & dosage; Ketoprofen - analogs & derivatives; Low back pain; Low Back Pain - diagnosis; Low Back Pain - drug therapy; Male; Middle Aged; Narcotics; Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; Pain Measurement; Prospective Studies; Studies; Treatment Outcome; Tromethamine - administration & dosage; Variables; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0735-6757; 1532-8171
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ajem.2016.04.028

Abstract Objective Oligo-analgesia is common in emergency departments (ED) and pain management is of concern for ED physicians. The aim of this study was to reveal the effect of ketoprofen gel in patients presenting with mechanical low back pain to the emergency department. Method All the study patients received intravenous dexketoprofen additional to study drugs. After dexketoprofen, 2 gr of 2.5% ketoprofen gel or placebo were administered to the site with pain and tenderness. Pain relief at 15 and 30 minutes was measured by visual analogue scale (VAS) scores. Rescue drug need and adverse effects were also recorded. Results A total of 140 patients were enrolled into the study. The mean age of the study patients was 35 ± 12 and 56% (n = 79) of them were male. The mean pain reduction at 30 minutes was 52 ± 18 for ketoprofen gel and 37 ± 17 for placebo and ketoprofen gel was better than placebo at 30 minutes (mean difference: 16 mm, 95% CI: 10 to 21). Ten patients (14%) in the placebo group and two patients (3%) in the ketoprofen gel group needed rescue drug (P = .35). Conclusion Ketoprofen gel improves pain in patients presenting with mechanical low back pain to ED at 30 minutes in addition to IV dexketoprofen when compared to placebo.