Main concepts
- Assess
- Assess, treat, and reassess pain regularly
- Use adequate assessment instruments
- Treat
- Offer immediate analgesia
- Use local nerve blocks (eg, femoral nerve blocks for hip fractures)
- Use strong opioids with IV administration
- Proceed
- Bring pain under control (NRS rating < 3) as soon as possible
- Proceed to surgery as soon as possible and patient is stable
- Avoid
-
Do not use NSAIDs/COX-2 inhibitors (high risk of gastrointestinal bleeding, renal failure, hypertension, fluid retention, and cardiovascular complications)