Randomized Controlled Trial of Intranasal Ketamine Compared to Intranasal Fentanyl for Analgesia in Children With Suspected, Isolated Extremity Fractures in the Pediatric Emergency Department

Intranasal medications are commonly used in place of parenteral opioids in children. IN fentanyl is the most commonly used intranasal analgesic medication in the pediatric population with demonstrated safety and efficacy comparable to IV fentanyl and IV morphine. IN ketamine, at sub-dissociative doses, offers similar safety and efficacy to IN fentanyl and the additional advantage of potentially reducing the total use of opioid agents during the emergency department visit. Ketamine is easily stored and has a wide therapeutic window with an extremely low risk of cardiorespiratory complications. This study will compare the safety and efficacy of IN ketamine to IN fentanyl in children with suspected, isolated extremity fractures in the pediatric emergency department.

The primary aim of the study is to examine the feasibility of future protocol expansion. The investigators will conclude that additional studies are NOT feasible if the observed rate of side effects for ketamine that exceeds fentanyl by three-fold or event rate of 5% or more for ketamine-related SAEs. The primary aim of the study will compare the frequency of adverse events over 6-hours among children randomized to receive either intranasal sub-dissociative ketamine (IN ketamine) or intranasal fentanyl (IN fentanyl) for pain control in the emergency department. The exploratory aim of the study will compare the efficacy of intranasal ketamine to intranasal fentanyl as measured by a reduction in age appropriate pain scale scores over 2-hours. The secondary aim of the study will compare the total dose of opioid pain medication in morphine equivalents/kg/hour required during the ED evaluation of children with suspected, isolated extremity fractures after randomization and treatment with IN ketamine or IN fentanyl.

Eighty children ages 3-17 years with a suspected, isolated extremity fracture that requires analgesia will be randomized to receive IN ketamine or IN fentanyl upon presentation to the emergency department and will be followed for 2 hours for efficacy and 6 hours for safety.

All participants will be premedicated with acetaminophen or ibuprofen and baseline data, including pain level, will be collected. The trial consists of two treatment arms. (IN ketamine 1 mg/kg or IN fentanyl 1.5 mcg/kg). Randomization will follow a 1:1 ratio, with approximately 40 per group. Randomization will be stratified by ages 3-10 and 11-17. The participants will be assessed by a research coordinator for adverse events every 5 minutes using an adverse events checklist for the first fifteen minutes post study medication administration and every 30 minutes for the first two hours after drug administration. The vital signs and pain scale assessment will be repeated every 10 minutes for the first 30 minutes and then every 30 minutes for the first two hours after drug administration. A final assessment will be made 6 hours after the last dose of study drug or at discharge from the ED to assess for late side effects or adverse events. Study medication may be repeated times one at a reduced dose after 20 minutes when the full effects of the first dose are known. The decision to administer additional study medication (0.5 mg/kg ketamine or 0.75 mcg/kg fentanyl ) will at be at the discretion of the treating physician. Should a second dose of study medication be required, a new schedule of patient assessments will commence following the same schedule as for the first dose. Participant assessments will continue until the 2 hour endpoint is reached from the time of the last drug administration, with a final assessment at 6 hours after the last dose of study drug or at discharge from the ED to assess for late side effects or adverse events.