Association Between Race and Usage of Pain Medications in Children With Long Bone Fractures in US Emergency Departments, 2011-2019

ObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to determine the association between race and analgesic administration for children with long bone fracture (LBF) in US emergency departments. Previous studies have shown conflicting results regarding association between race and analgesic administration for pediatric LBFs.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective analysis of pediatric emergency department visits for LBF using the 2011-2019 National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey-Emergency Department. We investigated the diagnostic workup and analgesic prescription rate among White, Black, and other pediatric emergency department visits for LBF.ResultsOf the estimated 292 million pediatric visits to US emergency departments from 2011 to 2019, 3.1% were LBFs. Black children were less likely to be seen for a LBF than White or other children (1.8% vs 3.6% and 3.1%, P < 0.001). There was no association between race and subjective pain scale (P = 0.998), triage severity (P = 0.980), imaging (x-ray, P = 0.612; computed tomography scan, P = 0.291), or analgesic administration (opioids, P = 0.068; nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs/acetaminophen, P = 0.750). Trend analysis showed a significant decrease in opioid administration for pediatric LBF from 2011 to 2019 (P < 0.001), with 33.0% receiving opioids.ConclusionsThere was no association between race and analgesic administration, including opioids, or diagnostic workup in pediatric LBF. In addition, there was a significant downtrend in opioid administration for pediatric LBF from 2011 to 2019.