SynthesisBMJ (Clinical research ed.)2004
Systematic review of efficacy of topical rubefacients containing salicylates for the treatment of acute and chronic pain.
Synthesis in BMJ (Clinical research ed.), 2004. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 18 papers, 4 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
18 citing papers in PubMed, 4 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 120 citations in OpenAlex.
- Salicylate-containing rubefacients for acute and chronic musculoskeletal pain in adults.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2014Pooled it
- Topical rubefacients for acute and chronic pain in adults.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2009Pooled it
- Topical NSAIDs for chronic musculoskeletal pain: systematic review and meta-analysis.BMC musculoskeletal disorders · 2004Pooled it
- Systematic review of topical capsaicin for the treatment of chronic pain.BMJ (Clinical research ed.) · 2004Pooled it
- Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Iontophoresis with Perskindol Gel in Patients with Osteoarthritis of the Knee Joints.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2022Trial
- Safety and efficacy of compound methyl salicylate liniment for topical pain: A multicenter real-world study in China.Frontiers in pharmacology · 2022Article
- Identification and analysis of key genes involved in methyl salicylate biosynthesis in different birch species.PloS one · 2020Article
- MR elastography measurement of the effect of passive warmup prior to eccentric exercise on thigh muscle mechanical properties.Journal of magnetic resonance imaging : JMRI · 2017Article
- Salicylate Poisoning Potential of Topical Pain Relief Agents: From Age Old Remedies to Engineered Smart Patches.Medicines (Basel, Switzerland) · 2017Review
- Novel Treatment of Radicular Pain With a Multi-Mechanistic Combination Topical Agent: A Case Series and Literature Review.Anesthesiology and pain medicine · 2016Article
- Evolution of topical NSAIDs in the guidelines for treatment of osteoarthritis in elderly patients.Drugs & aging · 2012Review
- Topical therapies for osteoarthritis.Drugs · 2011Review
- Article
- Pharmacologic management of chronic pain.The Korean journal of pain · 2010Article
- Management of chronic arthritis pain in the elderly.Drugs & aging · 2010Review
- Topical agents for the treatment of chronic pain.Current pain and headache reports · 2006Review
- The pharmacotherapy of chronic pain: a review.Pain research & management · 2006Review
- It's not just about rubbing--topical capsaicin and topical salicylates may be useful as adjuvants to conventional pain treatment.BMJ (Clinical research ed.) · 2004Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
6 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectiveTo determine the efficacy and safety of topical rubefacients containing salicylates in acute and chronic pain. DATA SOURCES: Electronic databases and manufacturers of salicylates. STUDY SELECTION: Randomised double blind trials comparing topical rubefacients with placebo or another active treatment, in adults with acute or chronic pain, and reporting dichotomous information, around a 50% reduction in pain, and analyses at one week for acute conditions and two weeks for chronic conditions. DATA EXTRACTION: Relative benefit and number needed to treat, analysis of adverse events, and withdrawals. DATA SYNTHESIS: Three double blind placebo controlled trials had information on 182 patients with acute conditions. Topical salicylate was significantly better than placebo (relative benefit 3.6, 95% confidence interval 2.4 to 5.6; number needed to treat 2.1, 1.7 to 2.8). Six double blind placebo controlled trials had information on 429 patients with chronic conditions. Topical salicylate was significantly better than placebo (relative benefit 1.5, 1.3 to 1.9; number needed to treat 5.3, 3.6 to 10.2), but larger, more valid studies were without significant effect. Local adverse events and withdrawals were generally rare in trials that reported them.
conclusionsBased on limited information, topically applied rubefacients containing salicylates may be efficacious in the treatment of acute pain. Trials of musculoskeletal and arthritic pain suggested moderate to poor efficacy. Adverse events were rare in studies of acute pain and poorly reported in those of chronic pain. Efficacy estimates for rubefacients are unreliable owing to a lack of good clinical trials.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.