Journal of AdvancedMedical and Dental Sciences Research

Background: Chronic low back pain is a persistent discomfort or ache in the lower back that lasts for an extended period. The present study was conducted to assess the effectiveness of ketamine in chronic low back pain patients. Materials & Methods: 50 patients with chronic low back pain were divided into 2 groups of 25 each. Group Ι patients were given 25 mg ketamine and Group ΙI patients were given 50 mg ketamine as adjunct to 40 mg triamcinolone in total 6 ml volume given epidurally. The pain and side effects were recorded. Results: The mean age in group I was 465.7 years and in group II was 46.2 years. The mean weight was 65.2 kgs in group I and 64.4 kgs in group II. The mean height was 155.2 cm in group I and 156.8 cm in group II. The difference was non- significant (P> 0.05). The mean VAS at baseline in group I was 72.3 and in group II was 82.4. At 2 weeks, in group I was 46.2 and in group II was 52.6, at 4 weeks in group I was 42.6 and in group II was 41.7, at 8 weeks in group I was 36.8 and in group II was 30.5. At 12 weeks was 31.5 in group I and 30.2 in group II. The difference was significant (P< 0.05). Common complications were nausea seen in 5% in group I and 14% in group II, hallucinations 4% in group I and 12% in group II, hypertension 7% in group I and 2% in group II and tachycardia 3% in group I and 5% in group II. The difference was significant (P< 0.05). Conclusion: Authors found that when treating patients with chronic low back pain, ketamine at a dosage of 50 mg is more effective than 25 mg.