The effectiveness of analgesics in traumatic injuries of the extremities

In this study, the effectiveness of different analgesics was investigated in patients who presented to the emergency room with traumatic injuries or fractures of the extremities. We observed 100 patients (42 male, 58 female) who presented to the Konya State Hospital emergency service with isolated traumatic injuries of the extremities. We used different analgesics intravenously or intramuscularly in those patients with a high or moderate level of pain according to a visual analog pain scale. Patient pain levels were assessed 15, 30, and 45 minutes after administration of the analgesics. Metamizole sodium 1 g IV was used in 36 patients and diclofenac sodium 75 mg 1M was given to 40 patients; tramadol hydrochloride 100 mg IV was administered to 24 patients. Pain became less severe after 15 minutes in 92% of patients who received tramadol IV; pain became less severe after 30 minutes in 72% of those who received metamizole IV. In contrast, pain became less severe after 45 minutes in 65% of patients who received diclofenac 1M. Tramadol was the most effective analgesic and was also more effective earlier than the other analgesics tested.