Efficacy and Safety of an Etofenamate Medicated Plaster for Acute Ankle Sprain: A Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND: The favorable benefit-risk profile of topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) makes them a preferred treatment for pain relief in soft tissue injuries. PURPOSE: To assess the efficacy and safety of a novel etofenamate 70-mg medicated plaster in patients with acute uncomplicated ankle sprain. STUDY DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial; Level of evidence, 1. METHODS: Patients with grade 1 or 2 ankle sprain of recent onset were randomized to etofenamate or placebo plasters (1:1) applied twice daily for 7 days. Clinical assessments, including ankle pain on movement (POM) in mm on a 100-mm visual analog scale (VAS), were made at predefined intervals during the treatment period. RESULTS: In total, 156 male or female adult patients (mean age, 35.3 ± 11.8 years) were enrolled. The fall in VAS values for POM from baseline to 72 hours was markedly in favor of the etofenamate plaster, with respective reductions of 52.7% and 24.0% for active and placebo plasters (least squares mean treatment difference, 22.1 mm; P value for analysis of covariance < .0001). Similar clinically relevant differences between etofenamate and placebo were seen for POM at the 48-, 96-, and 168-hour visits (P < .0001). These differences between etofenamate and placebo plasters were reflected in area under the curve for POM, pain at rest, and ankle swelling measured at various time points during the 7 days. Time taken to achieve a meaningful (30%) and optimal (50%) reduction of POM was significantly shorter in the etofenamate group. The responder rate (proportion of patients with at least 50% pain reduction at 72 hours) was 52.5% for the etofenamate plaster and 7.7% for the placebo. A significantly greater proportion of patients randomized to etofenamate rated their progress and/or the treatment as “good” or “very good.” The medicated plasters adhered well over the 12-hour dosing period and were very well-tolerated. CONCLUSION: With respect to the investigated indication, uncomplicated ankle sprain, the etofenamate plaster has therapeutic efficacy that is similar to that for the best available topical NSAID formulations. REGISTRATION: 2016-000252-99 (EudraCT number).