Comparison of intradermal sterile water injection and dexketoprofen trometamol in pain management of renal colic patients

Aim: In our study, we planned to investigate the efficacy of intradermal sterile water injections (ISWI) in the pain management of patients admitted to the emergency department due to renal colic. We also aimed to investigate patient satisfaction and reduce the use of opioid drugs with this method. Patients and methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 100 patients who presented with renal colic. Patients were divided into two groups: Group 1 received 50 mg of intravenous dexketoprofen trometamol, while Group 2 received dexketoprofen trometamol along with ISWI administered to four predetermined dermatomes (T11-L4). Pain levels were assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) at baseline and at 5, 10, 15, and 30 min post-treatment. Rescue analgesia requirements were also recorded. The primary outcome was the change in VAS pain score from baseline to 30 min after treatment. Findings: ISWI combined with dexketoprofen trometamol significantly reduced VAS scores compared to dexketoprofen trometamol alone (p < 0.05). The study was not registered, and the outcome assessment was not blinded. CONSORT methodology was not fully followed. These limitations need to be considered when interpreting the results. Conclusion: The combination of ISWI and dexketoprofen trometamol provides superior pain relief and reduces the need for rescue analgesia in patients with renal colic compared to dexketoprofen trometamol alone. However, because of the limitations mentioned above, no definitive conclusions can be drawn from this study. (c) 2025 Elsevier Inc. All rights are reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies.

Journal

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF EMERGENCY MEDICINE

Year

2025

Volume

96

Pages

1-5

ISSN

0735-6757

eISSN

1532-8171

DOI

10.1016/j.ajem.2025.06.005

WoS UID

WOS:001507068400001

Open via DOI