Opioid analgesia for acute low back pain and neck pain (the OPAL trial): a randomised placebo-controlled trial

Original research
by
Jones, Caitlin M.P. et al

Release Date

2023

Geography

Australia

Language of Resource

English

Full Text Available

No

Open Access / OK to Reproduce

No

Peer Reviewed

Yes

Objective

Opioid analgesics are commonly used for acute low back pain and neck pain, but supporting efficacy data are scarce. We aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of a judicious short course of an opioid analgesic for acute low back pain and neck pain.

Findings/Key points

Opioids should not be recommended for acute non-specific low back pain or neck pain given that we found no significant difference in pain severity compared with placebo. This finding calls for a change in the frequent use of opioids for these conditions.

Design/methods

Triple-blinded, placebo-controlled randomised trial (n=347)

Keywords

Chronic pain
Clinical guidance