ANALGESIA FOR THE REDUCTION OF FRACTURES IN CHILDREN - A COMPARISON OF NITROUS-OXIDE WITH INTRAMUSCULAR SEDATION

A prospective, randomized study was undertaken to compare the effectiv eness of nitrous oxide with intramuscular sedation (meperidine and pro methazine) in providing analgesia and amnesia during the reduction and treatment of children's fractures in an outpatient clinic setting. Fi fteen patients received a 50:50 mixture of nitrous oxide and oxygen, a nd 15 received intramuscular injection. The two groups were similar in regard to gender distribution, age, and fracture types. Pain response was recorded using the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (Canada ) Pain Scale (CHEOPS) at the time of fracture reduction and 30 min pos treduction. At the first follow-up visit a questionnaire regarding the patient's memory and subjective experience of the fracture reduction was answered. Data between the two groups were compared using the Mann -Whitney test. The CHEOPS scores, and the memory and subjective experi ence of the fracture reduction were similar between the two groups. Ti me in the outpatient department averaged 83 min for the intramuscular group and 30 min for the nitrous oxide group (p < 0.01). All of the ni trous oxide patients stated they would use nitrous oxide again, wherea s only eight of 15 intramuscular patients stated they would try intram uscular sedation again. Nitrous oxide is as effective as intramuscular sedation in providing analgesia and amnesia in the treatment of child ren's fractures while having a more rapid onset and a shorter recovery period with greater patient acceptance.