Letter to the Editor
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2024. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Clin Cases. Jul 26, 2024; 12(21): 4856-4858
Published online Jul 26, 2024. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v12.i21.4856
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in postoperative hand fracture management: Do they positively or negatively impact recovery?
Andrew Gorgy, Jacqueline Dalfen, Natasha Barone, Johnny I Efanov
Andrew Gorgy, Department of Plastic, Reconstructive, and Aesthetic Surgery, McGill University, Montreal H4A 3J1, QC, Canada
Jacqueline Dalfen, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal H4A 3J1, QC, Canada
Natasha Barone, Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto M5S 1A1, ON, Canada
Johnny I Efanov, Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal, Montreal H2X 3E4, QC, Canada
Author contributions: Gorgy A was responsible for the conceptualization and design of the study, and also contributed significantly to the acquisition of data and its initial analysis; Dalfen J and Barone N provided substantial input into the data interpretation and critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content; Efanov JI served as the senior author, overseeing the entire project, ensuring the accuracy of the analysis, and providing final approval of the version to be published; All authors were involved in drafting the manuscript, revising it critically for important intellectual content, and approving the final version to be published.
Conflict-of-interest statement: Andrew Gorgy, Jacqueline Dalfen, Natasha Barone, Johnny I Efanov have nothing to disclose.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Johnny I Efanov, MDCM, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal, 1051 Rue Sanguinet, Montréal H2X 3E4, QC, Canada. johnny.ionut.efanov@umontreal.ca
Received: March 3, 2024
Revised: May 31, 2024
Accepted: June 14, 2024
Published online: July 26, 2024
Processing time: 118 Days and 21.4 Hours
Abstract

This editorial explores the impact of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) on postoperative recovery in hand fracture patients, amidst shifting pain management strategies away from opioids due to their adverse effects. With hand fractures being significantly common and postoperative pain management crucial for recovery, the potential of NSAIDs offers a non-addictive pain control alternative. However, the controversy over NSAIDs' effects on bone healing—stemming from their Cyclooxygenase-2 inhibition and associated risks of fracture non-union or delayed union—necessitates further investigation. Despite a comprehensive literature search, the study finds a lack of specific research on NSAIDs in postoperative hand fracture management, highlighting an urgent need for future studies to balance their benefits against possible risks.

Keywords: Hand fracture, Post operative management, Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, Non-union, Bone healing, Cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors, Opioid alternatives

Core Tip: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) present a non-addictive alternative to opioids, crucial amidst the opioid crisis. However, concerns about their impact on bone healing persist, particularly through Cyclooxygenase-2 inhibition. There is a need for dedicated research to balance NSAIDs' analgesic benefits against potential risks of fracture non-union or delayed union.