IBUPAP Study for Pain Management in Children

The investigators' hypothesize the combination of oral ibuprofen and acetaminophen (APAP) is superior to either analgesic alone plus placebo for pediatric emergency department patients with acute traumatic/non-traumatic pain

• Intent to Treat, prospective, randomized, double-blind trial.
• Primary outcome: Pain reduction via NRS/FACES pain scale at times 0 and 60 minutes from administration of medication(s).

Secondary outcomes: Antipyretic effects, level of analgesia achieved with each patient diagnosis(es), incidence and type of adverse effect(s), and patients' and parents' satisfaction with achieved level of analgesia.

• Population : ages 3 - 17. Sample size 90 patients (30 per arm). Group 1: oral ibuprofen at 10mg/kg dose and placebo of equal volume; Group 2: oral APAP at 15 mg/kg dose and placebo of equal volume; and, Group 3: oral ibuprofen at 10 mg/kg dose and APAP at 15mg/kg dose.
• Location: Urban tertiary care hospital Pediatric ED with 40,000 annual departmental visits.
• Duration of Enrollment: 1 year from commencement of the study.

6/7. Patients will be enrolled and randomized upon triage by an assigned nurse dedicated to the study into one of three groups by using a blocks-randomization scheme for every 15 patients maintained by the ED pharmacists.

• For patients experiencing breakthrough pain, oral morphine sulfate at 0.2mg/kg will be provided.

Group 1: oral ibuprofen at 10 mg/kg dose and placebo of equal volume;

Group 2: oral APAP at 15 mg/kg dose and placebo of equal volume; and,

Group 3: oral ibuprofen at 10 mg/kg dose and APAP at 15mg/kg dose. Medications including placebo will be given via prefilled syringes of identical volume, color and flavor. Level of analgesia will be assessed at times 0 and 60 minutes from administration of medication(s).

All enrolled patients, health care practitioners, and research associates will be blinded to the study medication(s) given and to the allocation sequence. Pharmacist(s) who are aware of the study medication(s) will not enroll patients. The allocation sequence code will only be revealed to the researchers once recruitment, data collection, and data entry are completed.

Inclusion criteria

• ages 3-17 years old presenting to the pediatric ED
• treating physician deems patient required ibuprofen Tylenol or both for pain relief

Exclusion criteria

• documented or suspected pregnancy, (2)
• parental refusal,
• allergies to NSAIDS or APAP
• inability to tolerate oral medications or contraindications to oral medication route
• received analgesics within 4 hours prior to ED presentation
• inability to use pain scales