Transdermal NSAID Matches Oral Celecoxib After Knee Replacement

Randomized trial finds a topical anti-inflammatory patch provided similar pain relief, function, and safety as oral therapy during the first 6 weeks after surgery.

By
Doug Brunk
July 2, 2026
4 min

MDSpire News

Overview

A transdermal esflurbiprofen patch demonstrated noninferior pain control compared to oral celecoxib in patients post-total knee arthroplasty. Both treatments resulted in similar pain scores, functional recovery, and safety outcomes over a 6-week follow-up period.

Background

Post-operative pain management is critical for recovery following total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are commonly used for pain control. This study addresses the role of a transdermal esflurbiprofen patch in comparison to oral celecoxib.

Data Highlights

Measure	Transdermal Esflurbiprofen	Oral Celecoxib
Pain at Rest (POD 14)	1.0	0.8
Pain with Movement (POD 14)	2.5	2.3
Pain at Rest (Week 6)	0.6	0.5
Pain with Movement (Week 6)	2.0	1.8

Key Findings

The transdermal esflurbiprofen patch provided pain control comparable to oral celecoxib.
Average pain scores at rest and during movement improved significantly in both groups.
Functional recovery measures showed no significant differences between the two treatment groups.
No patients required rescue morphine in either group.
Safety outcomes, including kidney function, were similar across both treatments.

Clinical Implications

The findings suggest that transdermal esflurbiprofen can be an effective alternative to oral celecoxib for managing post-operative pain in TKA patients. This may provide clinicians with additional options for multimodal pain management strategies.