Efficacy and safety of transdermal diclofenac patch versus intramuscular diclofenac injections in postoperative patients of inguinal hernia

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of diclofenac transdermal patch with intramuscular diclofenac injections in postoperative patients of inguinal hernia. Methods: Sixty male participants scheduled for surgery of inguinal hernia were equally randomized into two groups. A transdermal diclofenac patch 100 mg was applied to the participants in the study group 3 hours prior to surgery. In the control group, 2 doses of 75 mg diclofenac sodium injections were given intramuscularly, first dose 2 hours after the surgery and second dose after 12 hours. Pain was assessed postoperatively after an interval of every six hours for 24 hours using visual analogue scale (VAS) and verbal rating scale (VRS). Tramadol 50 mg slow intravenous injection was administered as rescue analgesic. Patients were withdrawn from the study when they asked for rescue analgesia, or when the VAS score was >5 and VRS >2. Data were analysed using unpaired student’s‘ t ’ test. Results: Both diclofenac patch and intramuscular injections produced effective analgesia. A gradual increase in pain score was observed for diclofenac patch as compared to intramuscular injections 18 hours after the surgery. Diclofenac patch was well tolerated without any significant side effects. Conclusions: Transdermal diclofenac patch can be considered as safe and effective method of pain management in postoperative patients of inguinal hernia. But diclofenac intramuscular injection provided better pain relief compared to diclofenac transdermal patch.