Article Text
Abstract
Objective The current study aimed to ascertain differences in early postmedication pain reduction in participants presenting with acute musculoskeletal injuries (MSI) to the ED receiving intramuscular (IM) versus per oral (PO) diclofenac.
Methods This was a prospective, double-blinded, randomised controlled trial conducted between January and June 2018 at the ED of Hamad General Hospital in Doha, Qatar. Adults (18–65 years of age) presenting to the ED within 24 hours of an acute MSI, who had a triage pain score measured using numerical rating scale of at least five or above were enrolled in this trial. Participants randomised to either IM (75 mg) with oral placebo, or oral (100 mg) diclofenac group with IM placebo using a computer-generated randomised concealed list in blocks of six and eight. The primary objective was to compare the proportion of IM versus PO participants attaining a 50% reduction in pain score at 30 min from t0.
Results 300 participants were enrolled (150 in the IM diclofenac group and 150 in the PO diclofenac group) in the trial. The primary outcome was achieved in 99.3 (95% CI 96.3 to 100) in the IM group and 86.7 (95% CI 80.2 to 91.7) in PO group. There was an absolute risk difference of 12.7%. This corresponds to a number needed to treat of 8 cases (95% CI 6 to 14) receiving IM rather than the PO diclofenac in order to achieve one additional case of 50% pain reduction within 30 min of drug administration. There were no adverse events experienced in any treatment groups.
Conclusion IM diclofenac injection provides rapid analgesia over PO administration of diclofenac. However, given the preparation needed for an IM injection, oral administration may be preferable when and if clinical circumstances allow a choice in non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug administration route.
- pain management
- emergency department
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Footnotes
Contributors IQ contributed by helping in the conception/design of the manuscript and critical review of the manuscript.SAP helped in formulating the research question. He also contributed in forming the statement of hypothesis and drafting of the initial manuscript. He also aided in the critical revision of the article. RSQ helped in data collection and helped in formulating the research question. SHT contributed in forming the concept and design of the manuscript; helped in data analysis and its interpretation; provided the final approval for the manuscript to be sent in for publication.
Funding The study was funded by Hamad Medical Corporation, Medical Research Center, Doha, Qatar (MRC#16413/16).
Competing interests None declared.
Ethics approval The trial was approved by the Hamad General Hospital Institutional Ethics Board, Doha, Qatar. Trial registrationnumber NCT03472339.
Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.
Patient consent for publication Not required.