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Research question Does diclofenac gel work better than placebo for people with moderately painful osteoarthritis of one knee?
Answer Diclofenac gel (1.16%) relieves pain and stiffness somewhat better than a placebo, but it takes about a week to start working.
Why did the authors do the study? European and American guidelines recommend oral or topical non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs as second line treatment for osteoarthritis. The authors, supported by the drug manufacturer Novartis, wanted to evaluate the topical gel in a clinical trial with modern robust methods.
What did they do? 237 German patients with osteoarthritis of one knee took part in a double blind, placebo controlled trial. They had moderate pain and radiographic changes, including osteophytes. After a washout period, during which they could take only paracetamol (up to 2 g...