An unprecedented study in Brazil analyzed pain intensity and adequacy of analgesia at an emergency center. One hundred accident victims attended at a trauma reference hospital were evaluated. Pain was present in 90% of cases; 56.0% complained of severe pain on first evaluation and, three hours later, 26.0% remained in severe pain and 38.0% in moderate pain. A significant portion of the study population did not receive analgesia during the observation period. Considerable numbers of inadequate analgesia were found, confirming the reduced importance of analgesia in trauma in Brazil.