Ketamine for Pain, Opioid Use, and Mental Health in Orthopedic Trauma Patients

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if ketamine, given during surgery, can help improve recovery for adults with serious orthopedic trauma. The study will test whether ketamine reduces pain, lowers the need for opioids, and improves mental health outcomes like depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The main questions it aims to answer are: Does ketamine reduce pain after surgery compared to standard anesthesia? Does ketamine reduce the amount of opioids patients need for pain control? Does ketamine improve symptoms of depression and PTSD after orthopedic trauma? Researchers will compare patients who receive ketamine during surgery with those who receive standard anesthesia without ketamine to see if ketamine helps improve both physical and psychological recovery. Participants will: Be randomly assigned to receive either a single dose of ketamine or standard anesthesia during surgery. Report their pain using a simple pain scale (Visual Analog Scale, VAS). Complete short surveys about mood and mental health (PHQ-9 for depression and PCL-5 for PTSD) at several time points after surgery. Allow the research team to review their electronic medical records to measure opioid prescriptions during recovery. Attend follow-up visits in clinic or by secure telehealth (e.g., Zoom) at 1-7 days, 2-3 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months after surgery

NCT Number	NCT06903819
Lead Sponsor	Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
Conditions	Orthopedic Trauma Surgery Patients, Postoperative Pain, Opioid Use, Depression, Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Enrollment	90 participants
Start Date	2025-11-06
Primary Completion	2027-05 (estimated)
Study Completion	2028-05 (estimated)
Updated on ClinicalTrials.gov	2026-03-24