A Retrospective Study of the Efficacy of Topical Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs on Postoperative Pain After Robot-Assisted Percutaneous Kyphoplasty

Purpose The present paper aims to retrospectively evaluate the clinical efficacy of topical non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in managing post-operative pain following robotically assisted percutaneous kyphoplasty. Methods A retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical records of 80 patients diagnosed with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractureswho underwent a robotically assisted percutaneous kyphoplasty procedure at the Department of Spine Surgery, Gansu Provincial People's Hospital, from January 2024 to March 2025.Patients were divided into two groups based on the routine postoperative application of ketoprofen topical patch: the treatment group (n = 38) and the control group (n = 42). The control group received standard postoperative analgesic management. We collected and compared the Numeric Rating Scale scores at different time points (0h, 8h, 16h, 24h, 36h, 48h, 72h) before and after surgery, as well as the Oswestry Disability Index scores pre-surgery and at 7 days post-surgery for both groups. Additionally, the frequency of rescue analgesia, drug-related side effects, operative time, and postoperative hospital stay were recorded. Results All patients successfully completed the procedure without severe complications. In comparison with the control group, the treatment group showed significantly lower Numeric Rating Scale scores at 8h, 16h, 24h, and 36h post-surgery (P < 0.05). The incidence of rescue analgesia use was lower in the treatment group (1/38) than in the control group (6/42), but this difference was not statistically significant. There were no statistically significant differences (P > 0.05) between the two groups regarding operative time, postoperative hospital stay, Oswestry Disability Index scores, or adverse event rates. Conclusion This retrospective study indicates that local topical application of ketoprofen topical patch around the incision after Robot-Assisted Percutaneous Kyphoplasty effectively alleviates early Pain that manifests subsequent to the surgical intervention and reduces the necessity for rescue analgesia. The findings indicate that the strategy under consideration is a feasible, safe, and effective.