Correlation of diclofenac sodium sustained-release capsules in conjunction with function training and VAS score after ankle fracture surgery

Z.-F. Liu, Z.-Y. Qiu, Y. Zhang, J. Fu, X.-W. Ma

Department of Orthopedics, Foshan Women and Children Hospital Affiliated to Southern Medical University, Foshan, China. maoso317@163.com

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• Orthopedics

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of Diclofenac sodium sustained-release capsules combined with function training on functional recovery and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) score after surgery for ankle fractures.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study included 88 patients with ankle fractures who were surgically treated at our institution between October 2019 and October 2021. The individuals were randomized into experimental and control groups, with 44 patients in each group. Following their hospitalization, all patients had surgical therapy. After surgery, patients in the control group received conventional analgesics together with function training, whereas those in the experimental group received Diclofenac sodium sustained-release capsules along with function training. The efficacy of the post-surgical treatment in the two groups was then evaluated using functional recovery and VAS scores.

RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the VAS score between the two groups before intervention (p>0.05). After treatment, both groups experienced pain relief, with the VAS score of the experimental group being significantly lower than the control group (p<0.05). The number of patients in the experimental group who fully and partially complied with the study was 19 and 24, respectively, significantly higher than that of 15 and 20 in the control group. Only 1 patient in the experimental group was non-compliant, compared to 9 in the control group. The total compliance rate in the experimental group was 97.73%, much higher than that of 79.55% in the control group (p<0.05). Before the intervention, there was no significant difference in the range of active ankle motion between the two groups (p>0.05). After treatment, there was an improvement in the range of active motion of the ankle in patients from both groups.

CONCLUSIONS: After ankle fracture surgery, using Diclofenac sodium sustained-release capsules in conjunction with function training successfully lowers postoperative pain. It also maintains emotional stability and ensures sleep, factors which are helpful in improving patient compliance to treatment and promoting functional recovery of the ankle. The clinical value of this treatment regimen is certain, and it deserves more widespread application.

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