Clinical use of etodolac for the treatment of lumbar disc herniation

This paper reports a non-comparative multicentre study designed to assess the usefulness of a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent--etodolac--for the treatment of lumbar disc herniation. The efficacy and safety of etodolac were evaluated based on the changes of symptoms and signs of the patients, including the following parameters: low back pain, leg pain and tingling, gait, the straight-leg-raising test, sensory disturbance, motor disturbance, restriction of activities of daily living (ADL), urinary bladder function, and patients' impressions at each hospital on the initial day, and at one week and two weeks after the start of administration of etodolac, in a total of 88 patients. The overall improvement was noted as a 'marked' in 5% and 13%, 'moderate' or better in 31% and 54%, 'slight' or better in 82% and 84%, 'no change' in 12% and 9%, and 'aggravated' in 6% and 7%, at one and two weeks after administration, respectively. The only adverse drug reaction reported was stomach pain in one of the 81 patients. It can be concluded that etodolac is an effective and well-tolerated non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent in the treatment of lumbar disc herniation.