ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION Topical analgesic and anti-inflammatory therapy aims to (1) relieve pain; (2) reduce the clinical signs of inflammation (edema, loss of function, etc.) whether local (e.g., dermatitis) or distal (e.g., synovitis); and (3) facilitate healing. A drug (or placebo) is accepted as useful if symptoms are controlled without impairing healing or inducing other toxicities.
