Journal of AdvancedMedical and Dental Sciences Research

Background: The present study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of ketamine in chronic low back pain patients. Materials & Methods: The present study was conducted on 48 patients of chronic low back pain of both genders. Patients were divided into 2 groups of 24 each. Group Ι patients were given 25 mg ketamine and Group ΙI patients were given in and 50 mg ketamine as adjunct to 40 mg triamcinolone in total 6 ml volume given epidurally. Assessment of pain using visual analogue scale (VAS) and side-effects were recorded. Results: The mean age in group I was 46.2 years and in group II was 47.8 years. The mean weight was 65.3 Kgs and in group II was 64.5 kgs. The mean height was 154.2 cm in group I and 155.8 cm in group II. The mean VAS at baseline in group I was 74.3 and in group II was 81. At 2 weeks, in group I was 45.2 and in group II was 53.6, at 4 weeks in group I was 43.6 and in group II was 42.7, at 8 weeks in group I was 37.8 and 32 at 12 weeks was 32.5 in group I and 31.2 in group II. The difference was significant (P< 0.05). 4% in group I and 16% in group II had hypertension, 3% in group I and 10% in group II had tachycardia, 5% in group I and 1% in group II had nausea and 30% in group I and 54% in group II had hallucinations. Conclusion: Authors found that ketamine in dosage of 50 mg is effective as compared to 25 mg in chronic low back pain patients. Key words: Chronic low back pain, Ketamine, Hypertension.