Critically appraised paper: In patients with acute low back or neck pain, a judicious short course of opioids did not reduce pain compared with placebo [commentary]

Opioids are frequently prescribed for acute musculoskeletal pain,1 with guidelines recommending that they are used in small doses and over short timeframes.2 The trial by Jones et al. provides evidence on the safety and efficacy of opioids for acute spinal pain, finding no difference in pain intensity at 6 weeks between a group taking modified-release oxycodone/naloxone compared with placebo.