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To evaluate the frequency and predictors of analgesic use for pediatric pain, investigators reviewed charts for 773 children <15 years (mean, 6.4 years) with isolated long bone fractures who presented within 12 hours of injury to a single level I pediatric trauma center during 2 years.
During the first hour after arrival in the emergency department (ED), 10% of patients received adequate pain medication (standard doses of opioids, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents, or acetaminophen), 31% received inadequate pain medication, and 59% received no pain medication. Overall, 71% of patients received pain medication during their ED stays. In multivariate analysis, children aged 10 to 15 years were more likely to receive adequate pain medication…