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Burns analgesia — DipIMC MCQ

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HardTraumaBurns analgesiaDipIMC

A haemodynamically stable adult with an isolated closed femoral-shaft fracture has severe pain despite splinting. IV access and continuous monitoring are available. Which first-line analgesic strategy is appropriate?

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Correct answer: B — Give small titrated IV morphine doses to achieve effective analgesia

The best answer is “Give small titrated IV morphine doses to achieve effective analgesia”. NICE recommends IV morphine as first-line analgesia in major trauma, adjusting the dose to achieve adequate pain relief while reassessing physiology and adverse effects. A titrated IV approach is more controllable than a fixed IM dose. Analgesic-dose ketamine is a second-line option, paracetamol alone is unlikely to treat this severity promptly, and benzodiazepine sedation is not analgesia.

Reference: NICE NG39, Major trauma: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng39/chapter/recommendations