Introduction: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are, in general, the cornerstone of musculoskeletal pain management; however, systemic adverse events with oral formulations of NSAIDs are common. To address this problem and limit systemic exposure, topical formulations of some NSAIDs have been developed. The aim of this systematic review was to assess the available evidence on the efficacy and safety of the topical formulations of the NSAID etofenamate in patients with musculoskeletal disorders.
Methods: A systematic search of PubMed and Web of Science was conducted using the key words "topical etofenamate efficacy" OR "topical etofenamate safety" OR "topical etofenamate effectiveness" to identify studies of etofenamate published from inception to November 2018. Some published manuscripts of interest known by the authors but not identified in the PubMed search were also included to ensure the review article was as comprehensive as possible.
Results: Overall, 12 studies were identified. These studies demonstrate that topical etofenamate [administered either in gel (5 or 10%), cream (10%) or lotion (10%) formulations)] can improve pain and reduce inflammation in patients with musculoskeletal disorders, including blunt injuries and rheumatic diseases. Etofenamate was shown to have an overall efficacy that was superior to other topical NSAIDs, such as 1% indomethacin and 1% diclofenac, and to be as effective as topical formulations of 2.5% ketoprofen gel and 2% ketorolac gel (although ketorolac showed better elimination of pain at some time points). Also, clinical evidence indicates that etofenamate is generally well tolerated in these indications.
Conclusions: The clinical evidence currently available suggests that etofenamate is an effective therapeutic option for the management of musculoskeletal disorders, such as blunt traumas, lumbago or osteoarthrosis. However, larger and well-controlled clinical trials comparing the efficacy and safety of etofenamate with other newer topical NSAIDs are warranted.
Keywords: Efficacy; Etofenamate; Musculoskeletal; NSAIDs; Tolerability; Topical.