Low-Dose Intravenous Ketamine Bolus versus Conventional Technique for the Reduction of Upper and Lower Extremity Fractures in Children: A Randomised Controlled Clinical Trial

Abstract

Aim: Ketamine administration in high dosage leads to certain adverse reactions. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of low-doseintravenous ketamine bolus versus conventional injection for the reduction of upper and lower extremity fractures in children.Materials and Methods: A total of 198 paediatric patients with extremity fractures were enrolled. They were randomly categorized into twogroups. In the intervention group, a number of 100 patients participated with a mean age of 8.89±4.37, among them 77 (77%) were maleand upper limb fractures were more common (84%). They were assigned to receive 1% ketamine at a dose of 0.5 mg/kg (within 5 s), and inthe control group, a number of 98 patients participated with a mean age of 9.08±3.98, among them 73 (74.5%) were male and upper limbfractures were more common (83.7%). They received ketamine at 1.5 mg/kg for 30-60 s. The outcomes were measured, and the satisfactionof patients and physicians was recorded.Results: Successful sedation rate was significantly lower in the low-dose ketamine group than in the control group (7% vs 100%; p