Haloperidol for Pain Control in Patients With Acute Musculoskeletal Back Pain in the Emergency Department

Purpose

Single center, double-blind, randomized, controlled trial in patients who present to the emergency department (ED) with a chief complaint of back pain. A total of 150 patients age 18-65 presenting to the emergency department with chief complaint of backpain will be enrolled from April 2024 - April 2025. Patients will be randomized and symptom levels will be recorded at 30, 60, 90, minutes. Follow-up will be performed by telephone at 24 hours.

Conditions

  • Back Pain
  • Chronic Pain

Eligibility

Eligible Ages
Between 18 Years and 65 Years
Eligible Sex
All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
No

Inclusion Criteria

  • Age 18 - 65 years old - Presenting to the Bronson ED with a chief complaint of acute, non-traumatic back pain - VAS score >5 cm

Exclusion Criteria

  • Back pain due to traumatic injury - Experiencing saddle anesthesia - Has bowel or bladder dysfunction - Has an abnormal neurological exam - Requires imaging in ED - Has a Glascow coma score <15 - Has one or more abnormal vital signs: HR>120, SBP>180 or <90, temperature >38°, O2 saturation<92% - Has an allergy to ketorolac or haloperidol - Has a known diagnosis of Lewy Body Dementia - Has a known diagnosis of glaucoma. - Is known to be pregnant or breastfeeding - Is a prisoner or ward of the state - Is unable to consent for themselves/ non-english speaking - In the opinion of the attending physician or investigator the patient should not participate in the research

Study Design

Phase
Phase 4
Study Type
Interventional
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention Model
Parallel Assignment
Intervention Model Description
This is a single-center prospective randomized double-blinded non-inferiority trial with potential assessment of superiority comparing haloperidol to ketorolac for the treatment of back pain.
Primary Purpose
Treatment
Masking
Triple (Participant, Care Provider, Investigator)
Masking Description
Treatment allocations will be revealed only after study completion, unless there is concern for a serious adverse event in which case treatment team and patient will be unblinded. Interim analysis will be performed at 34 participants to evaluate for effectiveness and power

Arm Groups

ArmDescriptionAssigned Intervention
Experimental
Haloperidol
Haloperidol 5 mg IM haloperidol
  • Drug: Haloperidol
    Intramuscular injection of drug
    Other names:
    • Haldol
Active Comparator
Ketoralac
Ketoralac 30 mg IM
  • Drug: Ketorolac Tromethamine
    Intramuscular injection of drug
    Other names:
    • Toradol

Recruiting Locations

Bronson Methodist Hospital
Kalamazoo, Michigan 49007
Contact:
Jessica McCoy, MD
269-337-6600
jessica.mccoy@med.wmich.edu

More Details

Status
Recruiting
Sponsor
Western Michigan University School of Medicine

Study Contact

Jessica McCoy, MD
269-337-6600
jessica.mccoy@wmed.edu