Diclofenac for pain after hip surgery.

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Pharmacology
• Pain Management

Background:

• Postoperative pain following hip replacement for arthrosis is a significant clinical challenge.
• Effective pain management is crucial for patient recovery and satisfaction.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the efficacy and safety of diclofenac versus pethidine and placebo in managing acute postoperative pain after hip replacement.
• To evaluate pain reduction using the visual analogue scale (VAS) and investigator assessment.

Main Methods:

• A randomized study involving 68 patients undergoing hip replacement.
• Intramuscular administration of diclofenac (75 mg), pethidine (50 mg), or placebo.
• Pain assessment before and for 3 hours after injections, with a potential second dose.

Main Results:

• Diclofenac demonstrated significantly greater pain reduction compared to both pethidine and placebo.
• The diclofenac group experienced the lowest incidence of side effects.
• Ten patients in the placebo group required rescue medication due to inadequate pain relief.

Conclusions:

• Diclofenac (75 mg) is more effective than pethidine (50 mg) for managing acute postoperative pain after hip arthroplasty.
• Diclofenac exhibits a superior safety profile with fewer side effects compared to pethidine in this patient cohort.