A Randomised Study to Compare the Efficacy and Tolerability of Aceclofenac and Diclofenac in Osteoarthritis of Knee Joint

Background: Osteoarthritis is a slowly progressive disorder associated with a hyaline cartilage loss. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs play a pertinent role in management of osteoarthritis.

Objectives: The study was carried out for the comparison of efficacy and tolerability of Aceclofenac and Diclofenac in patients of osteoarthritis of knee joint.

Material and Methods: It is a randomised parallel group double blinded study. The study included 60 patients of confirmed osteoarthritis of knee joint, 30 patients were given Aceclofenac and 30 patients were given Diclofenac after food for 8 weeks and the patients were evaluated and compared statistically for pain intensity by VAS Score, Joint tenderness, Swelling, Erythema, Pain on movement, Functional capacity and Overall Assessment on LIKERT Scale.

Results: Both the drugs caused marked improvements in the parameters of -Pain intensity, Joint tenderness, Swelling, Erythema, Pain on movement of OA knee joint but there was increased improvement in all the parameters with aceclofenac.

Conclusion: Aceclofenac is the NSAID of choice in the osteoarthritis of knee joint as compare to Diclofenac as it is found to be more efficacious. Although, no significant difference was found in adverse effect drug profile.