Ethnicity and Reported Pain Scores Among Children With Long-Bone Fractures Requiring Emergency Care

Objectives: Previous studies have shown that regular pain measurement improves pain management. As the diversity of patients seeking emergency care continues to grow, a better understanding of the potential differences in pain perception and analgesic needs among various cultural groups will be required. The purpose of this study was to describe the differences in pain scores reported among ethnic groups treated for a long-bone fracture. Methods: A retrospective review of patients with a long-bone fracture treated in an urban pediatric emergency department during a 12-month period was performed. Pain scores were assessed using previously validated pain scales. Results: Eight hundred eighty patients met our inclusion criteria. Wrist fracture was the most common type of fracture in our study. There were significant differences noted in reported pain scores. Patients identified as Hmong had the highest pain scores, and patients identified as Somali had the lowest pain scores reported. Patients with wrist fractures had the highest average pain score when compared with other types of fractures. Children with fractures requiring reduction in the emergency department had higher pain scores than those who had a fracture that did not require reduction. Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the relationships between ethnicity and pain scores reported in children treated emergently for a long-bone fracture.