Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

AIM: To establish current UK practice for the management of the acute traumatic shoulder dislocation with respect to analgesia and reduction manoeuvres. To compare the transit times of patients through an emergency department (ED) after the use of intravenous analgesia and/ or sedation compared to entonox +/- simple oral analgesia. METHODS: A postal questionnaire was sent to 100 UK ED consultants to establish current practice. The treating clinicians were allowed to choose the method of analgesia provided to reduce the patient's dislocated shoulder, provided the patient was happy with it. They administered either (1) traditional intravenous morphine and/or midazolam or (2) entonox +/- simple oral analgesia to facilitate reduction. A prospective audit was conducted to compare the transit times of the two groups of patients. RESULTS: The postal questionnaire revealed that intravenous morphine and midazolam are widely used during reduction of the acute shoulder dislocation in the UK. The audit showed that this was associated with a significantly prolonged transit time through the ED, compared to entonox alone, (mean 77 min versus 177 min, respectively, p<0.001) without compromise in reduction success. CONCLUSION: Entonox +/- simple oral analgesia significantly decreases ED transit times as compared to IV morphine and/or midazolam for the reduction of the acute traumatic dislocated shoulder. Further studies should be done into patient pain scores and into the best combination of oral analgesia and entonox.

Original publication

DOI

10.1016/j.aaen.2007.07.008

Type

Journal article

Journal

Accid emerg nurs

Publication Date

10/2007

Volume

15

Pages

223 - 227

Keywords

Acute Disease, Analgesia, Analgesics, Anesthetics, Combined, Conscious Sedation, Drug Utilization, Emergency Service, Hospital, Emergency Treatment, Humans, Hypnotics and Sedatives, Infusions, Intravenous, Length of Stay, Manipulation, Orthopedic, Medical Audit, Midazolam, Morphine, Nitrous Oxide, Oxygen, Practice Patterns, Physicians', Prospective Studies, Shoulder Dislocation, Surveys and Questionnaires, Treatment Outcome, United Kingdom