Patient characteristics
| Characteristic | IM group: n=150 | PO group: n=150 |
| Age median and IQR | 34 (29–38) | 33 (27–39) |
| n (%) male | 117 (78.0%) | 118 (78.7%) |
| Body Mass Index (BMI) (median, IQR) | 26.1 (23.2–29.4) | 25.9 (23.7–28.7) |
| n (%) outdoor-labourer occupation | 92 (61.3%) | 96 (64.0%) |
| Geographic region of patient nationality | ||
| Indian subcontinent | 90 (60.0%) | 103 (68.7%) |
| Middle East | 18 (12.0%) | 11 (7.3%) |
| Saharan Africa | 18 (12.0%) | 9 (6.0%) |
| Pacific Asia | 14 (9.3%) | 12 (8.0%) |
| Central Asia | 6 (4.0%) | 12 (8.0%) |
| Sub-Saharan Africa | 4 (2.7%) | 2 (1.3%) |
| North America | 0 (0%) | 1 (0.7%) |
| Injury characteristics | ||
| n (%) upper (vs lower) limb | 87 (58.0%) | 84 (56.0%) |
| n (%) proximal (to wrist or ankle) vs distal | 44 (29.3%) | 40 (26.7%) |
| n (%) with blunt (vs penetrating) injury | 129 (86.0%) | 128 (85.3%) |
| n (%) diagnosed with fracture/dislocation | 37 (24.7%) | 43 (28.7%) |
| Hours postinjury (median, IQR) | 2 (2–4) | 2 (2–4) |
| Month (all in 2018) of case enrolment | ||
| January | 39 (26.0%) | 39 (26.0%) |
| February | 45 (30.0%) | 45 (30.0%) |
| March | 32 (21.3%) | 32 (21.3%) |
| April | 11 (7.3%) | 9 (6.0%) |
| May | 21 (14.0%) | 23 (15.3%) |
| June | 2 (1.3%) | 2 (1.3%) |
| Initial pain numeric rating score (NRS) | ||
| 5 | 21 (14.0%) | 25 (16.7%) |
| 6 | 30 (20.0%) | 43 (28.7%) |
| 7 | 51 (34.0%) | 47 (31.3%) |
| 8 | 26 (17.3%) | 19 (12.7%) |
| 9 | 7 (4.7%) | 5 (3.3%) |
| 10 | 15 (10.0%) | 11 (7.3%) |