Study of Ketamine to Improve Pain, Reduce Opioid Use, and Support Mental Health in Adults Undergoing Orthopedic Trauma Surgery

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating if ketamine given during surgery can improve recovery in adults with serious orthopedic trauma. The study aims to see whether ketamine reduces pain after surgery, lowers the need for opioid pain medications, and improves mental health outcomes like depression and post-traumatic stress disorder PTSD. This is a single-blind randomized controlled trial comparing ketamine to standard anesthesia in adults aged 18 to 65 undergoing surgical fixation for musculoskeletal trauma. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either a single intravenous dose of ketamine 0.5 mgkg within 30 minutes of anesthesia induction or standard general anesthesia without ketamine. The anesthesia team knows which treatment is given for safety, but participants and postoperative care teams do not. The trial focuses on assessing ketamines effects on pain, opioid use, and psychological recovery. During the study, participants will report their pain using a Visual Analog Scale at multiple time points from 1 day to 6 months after surgery. They will also complete questionnaires about depression and PTSD symptoms at these intervals. Researchers will track opioid use from electronic medical records. Follow-up visits can be done in clinic or via secure telehealth at 1-7 days, 2-3 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months post-surgery to monitor recovery and safety.

Ketamine for Pain, Opioid Use, and Mental Health in Orthopedic Trauma Patients