A Case Review of the Use of Ketamine to Emergently Reduce a Fracture

The call comes over your radio: "Rescue 12, respond with Engine 8 to male injured in a motorcycle crash 12 miles west of Route 7. More details to follow."
You and your partner get into the ambulance and head toward the area. As you're driving, your partner recalls that there's a motocross track somewhere near Route 7. She also recalls that there are no paved roads around the area.
"Rescue 12, the patient is located approximately 14 miles east of Route 7. The patient is a male injured in a motocross race and is reported to have severe lower extremity injuries. He's conscious and breathing." Dispatch provides the name of a cross street where an off-duty police officer will meet you.
"Understood," your partner responds. "Will you please place a helicopter on standby?"
You drive for about 20 minutes until you reach the off-duty officer at the rendezvous point. You follow his car and drive another 27 minutes until you reach the patient.
The 31-year-old male is found on the ground next to his motorcycle. He appears to be in pain and is wearing full protective gear that includes a helmet, jacket and pants. Both of his lower extremities are obviously deformed. A bystander reports that the patient had landed a 20–30 foot jump on his motorcycle.
You introduce yourself and begin an examination. He's awake and his airway is intact. You remove the jacket and note equal chest rise and fall, breath sounds bilaterally present and no chest deformity.
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Source: JEMS Patient Care - December 30, 2016 Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Marshall A. Frank, DO, MPH, FACEP Tags: Patient Care Source Type: news