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Table 2 Mild Pain (NRS 1–3 out of 10) – Expert derived recommendations for Round 2 and 3

From: Acute postoperative pain management protocols in podiatric surgery within Australia: a Delphi study

Delphi Statement

Consensusa,b (Median)

Interquartile rangec

Round 2

Round 3

Round 2

Round 3

The following should be prescribed for mild postoperative pain after osseous and/or soft tissue type podiatric surgery:

 Oral paracetamol.

A (9)

A (8)

9–9

8.25–9

 Oral paracetamol SR 665 mg.

A (8.5)

A (8)

7–9

7–9

 An oral COX-2 inhibitor.

A (7)

A (8)

7–8

7.25–9

 An oral non-selective NSAID.

N (5)

N (5)

4.25–7

5–6.75

 An oral opioid combination product.

I, N (4)

I, N (5.5)

3–5

3–6

 Oral oxycodone.

I (1.5)

I (2)

1–2

1–2.75

 Oral tramadol.

I (1)

I (2)

1–3

2–2.75

 Oral tapentadol IR.

I (1)

I (2)

1–3

1–2.75

 Oral tapentadol SR.

I (1)

I (2)

1–1.75

1.25–2.75

 Sublingual buprenorphine.

I (1)

I (2)

1–2

1–2.75

 Postoperative oral opioids should be prescribed for a shorter duration for soft tissue procedures than osseous procedures.

A, N (5.5)

A (7)

5–7

4.25–8.5

 Oral opioids such as paracetamol plus codeine, oxycodone, tapentadol, or tramadol should be prescribed for breakthrough pain.

A (7.5)

A (8)

7–9

8–9

  1. aThe consensus represents the mode of the grouped agreement level (Inappropriate, 1–3; Neither appropriate nor inappropriate, 4–6; and Appropriate, 7–9)
  2. bA Appropriate, I Inappropriate, N Neither appropriate nor inappropriate
  3. cInterquartile range: Q1 – Q3