Timothy J Mader1, Andrew Ames, Patricia Letourneau. 1. Department of Emergency Medicine, Baystate Medical Center, 759 Chestnut Street, Springfield, MA 01199, USA. timothy.mader@bhs.org
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: This study was done to review and describe the care of paediatric trauma patients with respect to pain assessment and medication administration. METHODS: A retrospective review of paediatric trauma patients, age <16 with a long bone fracture and GCS=15, cared for by our paediatric trauma response team (January 1998-August 2002). A single trained abstractor reviewed all records. Data were descriptively analysed. RESULTS: Fifty-six children were included. All but three received pain medication during resuscitation. The median time to first dose of pain medication after arrival was 20 min (95% CI: 14-29 min). The median pre- and post-treatment pain scores, on a 5-point scale, were 4 and 2, respectively. Vital signs were unaffected. CONCLUSIONS: As a group, our paediatric trauma resuscitation team did a much better job managing pain, in this segment of the population, than the preponderance of existing literature would predict.
OBJECTIVES: This study was done to review and describe the care of paediatric traumapatients with respect to pain assessment and medication administration. METHODS: A retrospective review of paediatric traumapatients, age <16 with a long bone fracture and GCS=15, cared for by our paediatric trauma response team (January 1998-August 2002). A single trained abstractor reviewed all records. Data were descriptively analysed. RESULTS: Fifty-six children were included. All but three received pain medication during resuscitation. The median time to first dose of pain medication after arrival was 20 min (95% CI: 14-29 min). The median pre- and post-treatment pain scores, on a 5-point scale, were 4 and 2, respectively. Vital signs were unaffected. CONCLUSIONS: As a group, our paediatric trauma resuscitation team did a much better job managing pain, in this segment of the population, than the preponderance of existing literature would predict.