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Major trauma analgesia — DipIMC MCQ

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EasyTraumaMajor trauma analgesiaDipIMC

A 63-year-old has a closed femoral fracture in a remote car park. He is alert, normotensive and in severe pain despite splinting; IV access is available. What is the most appropriate immediate action?

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Correct answer: B — Give titrated intravenous morphine with antiemetic and monitoring

Give titrated intravenous morphine with antiemetic and monitoring is the best answer because intravenous morphine is recommended first-line analgesia for severe pain in major trauma when titration is possible. Give oral medication and reassess at hospital is less appropriate because oral treatment is slow and unreliable in major trauma; Give intramuscular morphine 20 mg as a fixed dose is less appropriate because fixed intramuscular opioid dosing is poorly titratable. Withhold the drug until laboratory confirmation is available and Give aspirin 300 mg for traumatic pain are also suboptimal because they move attention away from the key pre-hospital priority.. The key DipIMC principle is to treat immediate reversible threats, communicate clearly and move the patient toward the right definitive care.

Reference: NICE Major Trauma NG39; JRCALC Guidelines