A comparative trial of the analgesic effect of tiaprofenic acid and indomethacin in post-operative pain following spinal surgery in patients with radicular syndrome

Abstract

A randomized double-blind trial was carried out in 80 patients with post-operative pain after discectomy to relieve chronic radicular syndrome, to compare the analgesic effectiveness and tolerance of tiaprofenic acid and indomethacin. Patients received either 600 mg tiaprofenic acid or 75 mg indomethacin per day, in 3 divided doses, on the day of the operation and for the next 4 days. The results of patient assessment of pain severity showed a statistically significant greater relief on the day of operation in the tiaprofenic acid group and lower pain scores were recorded on each of the 4 following days than in patients receiving indomethacin, although the difference did not reach statistical significance on any of these days. Fewer patients reported side-effects after tiaprofenic acid treatment but once again the difference between the two groups was not significant.