COMPARATIVE EFFICACY OF COMBINED USE OF DICLOFENAC WITH THIOCOLCHICOSIDE AND DICLOFENAC ALONE IN ORTHOPEDIC PATIENTS

Abstract

The present study was undertaken with the aim of comparing the efficacy of Diclofenac along with Thiocolchicoside and Diclofenac alone administered in orthopedic patients. A prospective observational study was carried out on inpatients for the duration of six months. Patients who meet the inclusion criteria and prescribed with Diclofenac are considered in the study. Pain is assessed during three stages of the Diclofenac therapy to determine the efficacy. Total NSAIDs prescribed was found to be in 73.06% patients. Among them non-selective NSAID Diclofenac (80 %) is the most commonly prescribed non-selective NSAID followed by aceclofenac (12%) and others (8%).The muscle relaxants Thiocolchicoside is prescribed in about 50% of patients. The efficacy in reducing pain was assessed in 2 groups of patients receiving diclofenac alone and the diclofenac +Thiocolchicoside combination .Severity of pain was recorded using pain assessment scale VAS, at three stages during the hospital stay. The mean pain scores are decreased in the two groups when compared at admission and discharge. The decrease in pain score was more pronounced with Thiocolchicoside +diclofenac group than the diclofenac group alone. Results of t-test between the two groups are found to be more significant (p<0.05). The combination use of muscle relaxants +NSAIDs show a better improvement in pain, stiffness and physical function of the orthopedic patients than the NSAIDs alone in reducing pain.