Management of Pediatric Fracture Pain Differs by Patient Race and Ethnicity

In a retrospective cohort study, researchers analyzed registry data for visits for long bone fractures at seven geographically diverse pediatric emergency departments over 3 years. Only visits with Emergency Severity Index levels 2 to 4 and full documentation of initial pain scores were included. Analyses controlled for multiple variables, including severity of fracture.

Of 21,069 children (median age, 10 years) with moderate-to-severe pain included in the analysis, 86% received at least one dose of pain medication and 45% received opioid pain medication during their ED stay. African American and Hispanic children were more likely than non-Hispanic white children to receive any type of pain medication (adjusted odds ratios, 1.72 and 1.32, re…