Does a combination of ibuprofen and acetaminophen provide similar pain reduction to a combination of acetaminophen and an opioid for emergency department patients with acute extremity pain?

BEEM Bottom Line

Why is this study important?

A recent database study reported an association between opioid prescriptions from the emergency department (ED) and long-term opioid use.[1] While the validity of the results is in question,[2] [3]  so is the analgesic effectiveness of opioids.[4] This trial compares the 3 most commonly used opioid analgesics in the ED to nonopioid analgesia for acute extremity pain.

Which, if any, threats to validity are most likely to have an impact on the results and how?

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