Ketamine Sub-Dissociative Dose Vs. Morphine Sulfate for Acute Pain Control in Patients with Isolated Limb Injuries in the Emergency Department: A Randomized, Double-blind, Clinical Trial.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the ketamine efficacy at a sub-dissociative morphine dose to reduce pain in isolated limb traumatic injuries. METHODS: A double-blind randomized clinical trial study was carried out on patients referred to emergency departments (EDs) due to isolated limb traumatic injuries. Eligible patients were divided into two groups which one group received 0.1 mg/kg ketamine and the other group received 0.05 mg/kg morphine, intravenously. An observed side effect includes pain scores and vital signs were recorded at baseline of every 5 minutes for 30 minutes. RESULTS: =0.002). CONCLUSION: The study findings suggest that the sub-dissociative ketamine efficacy in controlling of the acute pain is not lower than morphine sulfate in patients with isolated limb trauma in ED's. Thus, it can be considered as a safe and effective alternative approach.