Diclofenac Patches Promote Early Mobilization in Fragility Fractures: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Effective pain management is crucial for the early mobilization and functional recovery of elderly patients with fragility fractures. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of transdermal diclofenac patches (DPs) for pain control and their impact on functional recovery, with the primary hypothesis that DPs are superior in shortening the time to mobilization in elderly patients with fragility fractures.

Retrospective historical control.

This retrospective cohort study with historical controls included patients aged ≥70 years hospitalized with proximal femoral fractures or vertebral fractures. Thirty patients treated with DPs (group D) were compared with 30 patients not treated with DPs (group N). Primary outcomes included time to mobilization, recovery of activities of daily living, and ambulatory ability at discharge.

The time to initiating walking practice (mean difference 2.76 days, 95% confidence interval [0.28, 5.23], p = .03) and using the toilet (mean difference 2.37 days, 95% confidence interval [0.00, 4.73], p = .049) was significantly shorter in group D. In the vertebral fracture subgroup, significantly fewer patients in group D showed a decline in walking ability at discharge (p < .05). No drug-related adverse events were observed.

DP use was associated with earlier mobilization and better preservation of walking ability. It appears to be a well-tolerated and potentially useful analgesic option for improving the functional outcomes in this high-risk population. However, these findings should be interpreted with caution because of the limitations of unadjusted, nonrandomized historical comparisons.

© 20XX by the American Society for Pain Management Nursing.