Co-analgesic therapy for arthroscopic supraspinatus tendon repair pain using a dietary supplement containing Boswellia serrata and Curcuma longa: a prospective randomized placebo-controlled study

Merolla G

Published in Musculoskeletal Surgery

Methodology

Prospective randomised placebo-controlled trial of a Boswellia serrata/Curcuma longa dietary supplement as adjunct analgesia after arthroscopic supraspinatus tendon repair, with VAS pain, analgesic consumption and shoulder function outcomes over 8 weeks.

Key Findings

Patients randomised to a Boswellia serrata plus Curcuma longa supplement after arthroscopic supraspinatus repair reported lower pain scores and reduced rescue analgesic use in the early postoperative weeks than placebo, with comparable functional recovery and no notable adverse effects.

Conclusions

A Boswellia-curcumin supplement may act as a useful co-analgesic in the early weeks after rotator cuff repair, reducing painkiller use without evident harm.

Limitations

Single-centre trial with modest sample size, subjective pain endpoints, short 8-week follow-up, no assessment of tendon healing, and supplement supplied by the manufacturer.