The Analgesic Effects of Oral Acetaminophen vs. Ibuprofen in Children with Supracondylar Fractures: A Triple-blind Randomized Clinical Trial

Background: Supracondylar fractures are common in children with the average age of is 5-8 years. It is especially important to pay attention to pain control in these children because of the severe pain they experience. This study was designed to compare the analgesic effects of oral ibuprofen with those of the acetaminophen in children with supracondylar fractures undergoing a non-surgical treatment. Methods: This triple-blind clinical trial was conducted on children with supracondylar fracture referred to the Emergency Department of Imam Reza and Hasheminejad Hospital. Children's pain was assessed 2, 4 and 12 hours after taking the drug by VAS (Visual Analog Scale) criteria, which was explained by the researcher to their parents. Results: In this study, 64 children with a mean age of 5.7 +/- 1.7 years were studied. 31 children in the acetaminophen group and 33 children in the ibuprofen group were evaluated. The mean score of pain reduction within 12 hours of drug administration showed no difference between the two groups (P = 0.710). After 12 hours of drug administration, 5 and 7 children became painless in the acetaminophen and ibuprofen, respectively, with no difference between the two groups. Conclusion: During the 12 hours after ibuprofen and acetaminophen, all children, similarly, felt analgesia and there was no significant difference between the two drugs in terms of pain relief and side effects; thus, both drugs are safe and effective for pain-control in children.