Four treatment regimens for patients with specified combinations of low back pain and sciatica were evaluated. The largest group studied had low back pain with limited straight-leg raising (SLR) and in them the beneficial effect of manipulation in hastening pain relief was highly significant. In similar patients without limitation of SLR, the effect was of borderline significance. In all the other groups, treated patients also recovered more quickly than their controls. Traction, for patients with low back pain and sciatica, and epidural injections when a root palsy was present also produced some significant pain relief. The effect of sclerosants for back pain was less clear.

SummaryA double-blind cross-over study of ketoprofen (Orudis) 150 mg daily and ibuprofen (Brufen) 1,200 mg daily was carried out in 35 outpatients with rheumatoid arthritis. Results suggest that analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity of ketoprofen is superior to that of ibuprofen. Significantly greater pain relief (P < 0 05) and reduction in joint circumference (P <0-01) was obtained with ketoprofen than with ibuprofen. Side effects of the drugs were comparable and pot serious.

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