Effect of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on the course of osteoarthritis

Rashad S, Revell P, Hemingway A, et al. · Lancet

Indomethacin-treated hips lost joint space faster than contralateral hips and patients came to arthroplasty sooner; the difference was not seen with azapropazone.

Population

Patients with hip osteoarthritis awaiting arthroplasty

Intervention

Indomethacin (strong prostaglandin-synthesis inhibitor)

Comparator

Azapropazone (weak prostaglandin-synthesis inhibitor)

Limitations

Small comparative trial from 1989; blinding and allocation-concealment details unclear; time-to-arthroplasty is partly symptom-driven, so better analgesia could accelerate surgery independent of cartilage.