Introduction: Appropriate pain relief enhances patient satisfaction and reduces patient anxiety. This study aimed to compare oral oxycodone with intravenous (IV) morphine sulfate (MS) in pain management of acute limb trauma.
Method: In this randomized double-blind clinical trial, patients over 14 years old, with acute isolated limb trauma were randomized to receive either 5mg IV MS or 5 mg oral oxycodone. Pain intensity and adverse effects of medications were recorded 0, 30 and 60 minutes after drug administration and compared between the groups.
Result: 58 patients were studied. Pain intensity was similar between the two studied groups at 30 minutes (P = 0.834) and 60 minutes (P = 0.880) after drug administration. Furthermore, there was no significant difference between the two groups regarding decrease in pain within the defined time interval. Drowsiness was reported more frequently in MS group after 30 minutes (p = 0.006). Patients in MS group asked for more rescue analgesia. Other adverse effects were similar in both groups.
Conclusion: Oral oxycodone is as effective as IV morphine sulfate in treatment of acute musculoskeletal pain following blunt limb trauma.
Keywords: Oxycodone; acute pain; morphine; wounds and injuries.