• Total pain relief (TOTPAR) over 4 hours on Day 1 after the administration of the first dose of study medication
  

• Sum of Pain Intensity Differences; Sum of Pain Relief Intensity Differences; Pain Visual Analog Scores; mean daily pain intensity and relief; final pain intensity, relief and activity impairment assessment; subject overall medication assessment
  

Tramadol HCl/acetaminophen is approved for short-term (five days or less) management of acute pain. The combination of tramadol HCl/acetaminophen provides a more rapid onset of action compared with tramadol HCl alone and a longer duration of action than acetaminophen alone. Therefore, the combination of tramadol HCl/acetaminophen may be effective for the treatment of acute musculoskeletal pain. The current study is a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, inpatient/outpatient, active-controlled, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study. Patients who are experiencing at least moderate acute musculoskeletal pain from an ankle sprain severe enough to require prescription medication will be enrolled. Patients will be randomized to receive either oral tramadol HCl/acetaminophen, hydrocodone bitartrate/acetaminophen or placebo. Patients will receive 2 capsules tramadol HCl/acetaminophen 37.5/325 milligrams or 1 capsule hydrocodone bitartrate/acetaminophen 7.5/650 milligrams + 1 capsule placebo or 2 capsules placebo. Patient may take 1 or 2 capsules up to 4 times daily as needed but no more than 8 capsules per day for 5 daysThe first dose of study medication will be given at the study site. Patients will complete a Pain Visual Analog Scale, Pain Relief Rating Scale and Pain Intensity Scale at 1, 2, 3 and 4 hours after the first dose of study medication. On Day 1, after the 4-hour evaluations, patients will be dispensed study medication for use throughout the rest of the study. Patients will also evaluate and record in a daily diary the pain intensity ratings and pain relief scores for Days 1-5 of the double-blind phase. At the final visit, patients will complete a Pain Intensity Scale and Pain Relief Rating Scale, an Activity Impairment Assessment and a Subject Overall Medication Assessment. At the first dose, patients are dispensed 2 capsules of study medication. Thereafter, patients may take 1 or 2 capsules of study medication orally up to 4 times per day, as needed for pain, but no more than 8 capsules per day. The objective of this study is to compare the pain-relieving effectiveness and safety of tramadol HCl/acetaminophen versus hydrocodone bitartrate/acetaminophen versus placebo for the treatment of acute musculoskeletal pain from an ankle sprain with a partial ligament tear.

2 capsules tramadol HCl/acetaminophen 37.5/325 milligrams or 1 capsule hydrocodone bitartrate/acetaminophen 7.5/650 milligrams + 1 capsule placebo or 2 capsules placebo; patient may take 1 or 2 capsules orally up to 4 times daily as needed but no more than 8 capsules per day for 5 days