Comparison of Low-dose Ketamine to Opioids in the Management of Acute Pain in Patients Presenting to the Emergency Department With Long Bone Fractures

Comparison of Low-dose Ketamine to Opioids in the Management of Acute Pain in Patients Presenting to the Emergency Department With Long Bone Fractures

The purpose of this study is to establish the feasibility of initiating a ketamine pain control protocol in the emergency department for the treatment of acute pain in patients with long bone fractures and to compare the efficacy of the ketamine pain protocol to bolus morphine for pain control in the first 6 hours of patient stay in the emergency department.

Inclusion Criteria:

• patients presenting to the ED with long bone fracture, open or closed.Long bone fractures include:humerus, radius, ulna, femur, tibia, fibula.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Received morphine in the ED prior to enrollment
• Received ketamine any time prior to enrollment
• Glasgow Coma Scale(GCS) less than 15
• Transferred from other facility
• Other moderate to severe trauma injuries
• Contraindication to ketamine
• Cannot consent (no intubation, airway issues, hemodynamic instability)
• Prisoners
• Suspected and/or confirmed pregnancy