http://goo.gl/12UVj2
The researchers - from London Health Sciences Centre and Western University in Ontario, Canada - compared the outcomes of 66 children whose pain was treated using morphine with the outcomes of 68 children who were administered ibuprofen for fracture pain. All participants were aged 5-17 years.
The results demonstrate that, although both of the medications were effective for relieving pain, there were more adverse events - such as drowsiness, nausea and vomiting - associated with morphine.
"Given that morphine was associated with significantly more adverse effects, we conclude that ibuprofen remains a safe and effective therapy for outpatient management of children's fracture pain," write the authors.
"We hope that our results will provide clinicians with a foundation for rational analgesic choices for children with fractures who are discharged from the emergency department," they add.