Oligoanalgesia in Adult Colles Fracture Patients Admitted to the Emergency Department

Abstract

Pain is the most common reason that patients frequent the Emergency Department. Pain is a complex symptom to assess properly and according to research, it appears to be poorly managed in the Emergency Department. The majority of research has focused on the incidence of oligoanalgesia in large samples of patients with heterogeneous injuries. Pain management will differ depending on the type of injury a patient has sustained. The occurrence of oligoanalgesia in a homogeneous injury, such as Colles fracture, has yet to be explored. This is a pilot study using a retrospective chart review to determine the incidence of oligoanalgesia in adult Colles fracture patients admitted to two urban Emergency Departments in Western Canada. One hundred and fifty charts from site 1 and site 2 were analyzed from the last five years to determine the occurrence of oligoanalgesia. There was no statistical difference in age groups, who received analgesia, and females were more likely to receive analgesia, but this was not significant. Age and sex were not significantly associated with receipt of an opioid. Age and sex were significant predictors of pain assessment. Neither age nor sex were significant predictors of pain reassessment. Pain reassessment was only completed in 47% of patients who received an initial pain assessment, This was significant when compared to the best practice standard.