Managing the pain in a patient with traumatic injuries can be a delicate and difficult task. In the acute phase the options for pain control are often limited to opioids, which must be administered cautiously as to not further disrupt the homeostasis of an already fragile patient. Careful management of sedation during this period is also crucial to patient comfort and stability. In the recovery phase, a multimodal approach to pain control is preferred, utilizing opioid and non-opioid medications, regional and neuraxial blocks if appropriate, and other treatments to help limit the patient’s discomfort. Multimodal therapy may also more effectively prevent long-term sequelae including conversion to a chronic pain syndrome and opioid dependence and abuse.
