Comparing the Effect of Intravenous Acetaminophen (Apotel®) and Intravenous Morphine in Controlling the Pain of Forearm and Leg Fractures in Adults

This study evaluated the analgesic and safety effects of intravenous acetaminophen versus intravenous morphine in management of pain in forearm and leg fractures.
This study was a randomized double-blind clinical trial conducted on patients (15-60 years-old) with forearm and leg fracture and moderate to severe pain (pain score of 4 or more). Patients were randomized in to two groups, then, 1 g of intravenous acetaminophen or 0.1 mg/kg morphine was infused in 100 ml normal saline to either acetaminophen or morphine group. The pain severity was measured by Numeric Rating scale on arrival and 30 minutes after drug administration. The adverse reactions were also recorded.
Findings: 55 patients were entered. There was no significant difference in analgesic effect between the Intravenous Acetaminophen and morphine groups (P = 0.140), but, there was a significant difference in side effects between the two groups. (P = 0.014).
Intravenous acetaminophen appears to provide a similar level of analgesic comparable to intravenous morphine in limb fracture, however, further larger studies are required.