In patients with colles fracture, ibuprofen appears to be a bone-safe analgesic therapy and may be actively translated into the other fields of cancellous bone fracture therapy.

A randomized, placebo-controlled, triple-blinded, single-center study was performed to explore the analgesic effect of ibuprofen and also whether ibuprofen impacts the functional, biochemical,  radiological, and densitometrical outcomes following a colles fracture.

The study cohort incorporated 96 patients. All the participants were given basic therapy with 1000 mg of acetaminophen four times daily. The placebo cohort was given a placebo for about seven days. The three-day ibuprofen cohort was administered 600 mg ibuprofen thrice daily for the initial three days and a placebo for the next four days. The seven-day ibuprofen cohort was given ibuprofen thrice daily for about seven days.

The fragment migration for five weeks was the primary endpoint. Alterations in the wrist's range of motion; bone mineral density of the injured wrist; Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand score changes in serum CrossLaps and osteocalcin; and pain relief were the secondary endpoints.

The analyses were carried out based on the intention-to-treat approach. No vital differences in the radiological migration or densitometrical, functional and biochemical effects were noted among the groups. During the initial three days, the pain score was found to be reduced in the ibuprofen arm compared to the placebo arm.

Ibuprofen may be a promising bone-safe analgesic therapy after colles fracture.