Opioids for Acute Musculoskeletal Pain: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis

Objective

To evaluate the efficacy of opioids for people with acute musculoskeletal pain against placebo.

Study Design

Systematic review and meta-analyses of randomised, placebo-controlled trials of opioid analgesics for acute musculoskeletal pain in any setting. The primary outcomes were pain and disability at the immediate timepoint (< 24 h).

Data Sources

Multiple databases were searched from their inception to February 22nd, 2023.

Data Synthesis

Continuous outcomes were converted to a 0–100 scale. Dichotomous outcomes were presented as risk differences. Risk of bias and certainty of evidence was assessed.

Results

We located 17 trials (1 intravenous and 16 oral route of administration). For adults, high certainty evidence from 11 comparisons shows that oral opioids provide small benefits relative to placebo in the immediate term for pain (mean difference [MD] − 8.8 95% confidence interval [CI] − 12.0 to − 5.6). For disability, the difference is uncertain (MD − 6.2, 95% CI − 17.8 to 5.4). Opioid groups were at higher risk of adverse events (MD 14.3%, 95% CI 8.3–20.4%, very low certainty). There was moderate certainty evidence of a large effect of IV morphine on sciatica pain (MD −42.5, 95% CI − 49.9 to − 35.1, n = 197, 1 study). In paediatric populations, moderate certainty evidence from 3 trials shows that oral opioids probably do not provide benefit beyond that of placebo for pain (MD 6.1, 95% CI − 1.7 to 12.8) and there was no evidence for disability. There was low certainty evidence that there may be no difference in adverse events (MD 10.4%, 95% CI − 0.6 to 21.4%).

Discussion

Intravenous morphine likely offers benefits, but oral opioids may not provide clinically meaningful benefits.

PROSPERO registration

CRD42021249346.