Observational studyPloS one2021
An observational cohort study comparing ibuprofen and oxycodone in children with fractures.
Observational study in PloS one, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 9 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
9 citing papers in PubMed, 12 citations in OpenAlex.
- Hydromorphone in Pediatric Pain Management: Pharmacology, Clinical Applications, and Safety Considerations-A Narrative Review.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Review
- Emergency Medicine Management of Distal Radius and Ulna Fractures: Narrative Review.The western journal of emergency medicine · 2026Review
- Implementation of a standardized pain management protocol reduces the variability in prescription patterns following pediatric supracondylar humerus fractures.Bulletin of the Hospital for Joint Disease (2013) · 2025Article
- Pain experiences of marginalized children in the emergency department: A scoping review protocol.PloS one · 2024Article
- Effects of pharmacogenetic profiles on pediatric pain relief and adverse events with ibuprofen and oxycodone.Pain reports · 2023Article
- Do kids with forearm fractures need opioids at discharge from the emergency department? Analgesic prescribing and pain control following closed reduction of pediatric forearm fractures.Journal of the American College of Emergency Physicians open · 2023Article
- Quantifying unused opioids following emergency and ambulatory care: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Journal of the American College of Emergency Physicians open · 2022Article
- Quantifying the intensity of adverse events with ibuprofen and oxycodone: an observational cohort study.BMJ paediatrics open · 2022Observational
- Opioid Analgesic Prescription in French Children: A National Population-Based Study.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2021Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
9 authors at 6 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectiveTo compare the effectiveness and safety of prescribing ibuprofen and oxycodone for at-home management of children's fracture pain.
methodsA prospective observational cohort was conducted at the Stollery Children's Hospital pediatric emergency department (June 2010-July 2014). Children aged 4-16 years with an isolated fracture discharged home with advice to use either ibuprofen or oxycodone were recruited.
resultsA cohort of 329 children (n = 217 ibuprofen, n = 112 oxycodone) were included. Mean age was 11.1 years (SD 3.5); 68% (223/329) were male. Fracture distribution included 80.5% (264/329) upper limb with 34.3% (113/329) requiring fracture reduction. The mean reduction in Faces Pain Score-Revised score (maximum pain-post-treatment pain) for Day 1 was 3.6 (SD 1.9) (ibuprofen) and 3.8 (SD 2.1) (oxycodone) (p = 0.50); Day 2 was 3.6 (SD 1.8) (ibuprofen) and 3.7 (SD 1.6) (oxycodone) (p = 0.56); Day 3 was 3.7 (SD 1.7) (ibuprofen) and 3.3 (SD 1.7) (oxycodone) (p = 0.24). Children prescribed ibuprofen (51.2%, 109/213) experienced less adverse events compared to those prescribed oxycodone (70.5% 79/112) on Day 1 (p = 0.001). Children prescribed ibuprofen (71.8%, 150/209) had their function (eat, play, school, sleep) affected less than those prescribed oxycodone (83.0%, 93/112) (p = 0.03) on Day 1.
conclusionChildren prescribed ibuprofen or oxycodone experienced similar analgesic effectiveness for at-home fracture pain. Oxycodone prescribing was associated with more adverse events and negatively impacted function. Oxycodone use does not appear to confer any benefit over ibuprofen for pain relief and has a negative adverse effect profile. Ibuprofen appears to be a safe option for fracture-related pain.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.