Table 1.

Protocol for Rescue Analgesic Administration

NRS	Analgesic	Route	Dose, mg	Administration
Postanesthesia care unit (recovery room)
1–2	Oxycodone*	Oral	5	If patient desired
3–4	Oxycodone*	Oral	10	Every 30 min
5–6	Morphine	Intravenous	2	Every 10 min
Orthopedic ward
7–10	Morphine	Intravenous	4	Every 10 min
<4	Oxycodone*	Oral	5	If patient desired
4–7	Oxycodone*	Oral	10	Once
>7	Morphine	Intravenous	2–4	Every 10 min until NRS <4
Pain reassessed after 30 min
<4	Oxycodone*	Oral	5	If patient desired
4–10	Morphine	Intravenous	2–4	Every 10 min until NRS <4

^*Intravenous morphine (2 mg) was administered instead of oxycodone when oral intake was not tolerated.

NRS = pain on numeric rating scale (0–10, 0 = no pain and 10 = worst imaginable pain).