Analyzing Pediatric Post-Operative Prescription Trends Following Motor Vehicle Accidents​

Pain management in pediatric trauma patients following motor vehicle accidents (MVAs) presents unique challenges due to risks of over or under-treatment and concerns regarding opioid use in younger populations. Despite the availability of multimodal pain strategies, opioids remain a common choice— but the extent and variability of their use, especially postoperatively, are not well documented. Identifying current prescribing patterns and alternative agents in post-MVA pediatric care can help inform safer, more effective protocols, reduce opioid-related risks, and support efforts toward responsible analgesia in this vulnerable group. This study aims to identify and describe prescribing patterns of pharmacologic agents, with particular attention to pain medication use, in pediatric patients who underwent surgical intervention after an MVA. This project uses publicly available data from the National Center for Health Statistics, specifically the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS), which provides nationally representative data on healthcare usage and expenditures. The inclusion criteria were patients under 17 who were admitted to the emergency department post-MVA and underwent a surgical procedure of any kind. We collated data from 2015-2022 to map long-term prescribing patterns for this specific population. Preliminary results show the most used drug in the pediatric population was ibuprofen, followed by acetaminophen—these were more common in older pediatric patients; lidocaine was the most used drug in the 0-4 year old population. There was also a significant increase in total drugs prescribed in 2020 as compared to other years analyzed. By mapping long-term prescribing trends, this study provides a foundation for understanding current approaches to pediatric trauma pain management following MVAs. These findings can inform future investigations into safer, more effective protocols and support efforts toward reducing opioid-related risks through evidence-based multimodal strategies.