Differential efficacy of two non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in the treatment of sports injuries.

Twenty-eight patients presenting with sports injuries were randomly allocated to receive either 200 mg sulindac twice daily or 400 mg ibuprofen 3-times daily. Pain symptoms (day and night ratings) and observer assessment of pain on movement, swelling and tenderness were recorded pre-treatment and after 3 and 7 days of therapy. One patient in the sulindac group was excluded from the study because initial symptoms were mild. Response, in terms of decrease in scores, was better in those receiving sulindac than in those given ibuprofen at both 3 and 7 days for the parameters of pain during the day (p less than 0.05 at 7 days) and pain on movement (p less than 0.05 at 3 days). Patient assessment of treatment at 3 and 7 days was significantly better in the sulindac group than in the ibuprofen group (p less than 0.025). The only reported side-effect was gastro-intestinal upset in a patient in the ibuprofen group. The results suggest that sulindac is an effective and well-tolerated treatment for the symptoms associated with sprain and strain injuries.