ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Piroxicam gel [0.5%] in the management of acute well defined sprains and tendinitis. Forty patients completed the study. One gram Piroxicam gel [0.5%] was applied 3-4 times daily up to a period of maximum 14 days. Twenty-seven [67.5%] were suffering from Distorsio pedis [sprained ankle], 10 [25%] were suffering from epicondylitis [tennis elbow], 2 [5%] patients were suffering from Achilles Tendinitis and 1[2.5%] patients was suffering from Tendinitis M. supraspinatis. Patients showed improvement in all efficacy parameters assessed which included symptomatology, pain on active movement at affected site, and the ability of the patient to accomplish a chosen activity. At the end of the treatment period, 22 [55%] patients had no pain on movement, while the pain score dropped to 2.22 from average baseline score of 15.07. Twenty-four [60%] patients had no tenderness and 11 [27.5%] had very slight tenderness at the end of the treatment. Out of 36 patients who had restriction of movement at baseline, 25 [69.4%] had no restriction of movement at the end of treatment. The ability to accomplish a chosen activity returned to normal in 29 [80.5%] patients out of 36 who had chosen an activity at the beginning of the treatment. In patients self assessment and investigators' assessment, the overall efficacy was rated as excellent to good in 26 [65%] and fair in 12 [30%] and poor in 2 [5%]. Overall tolerance was excellent to good in 36 [90%] and fair in 4 [10%]. No side effect was either reported by any patient or observed by the investigator in this study