This small study randomized patients with 2 or greater rib fractures or requiring chest tube insertion into a kerorolac (30 mg) or ketamine (0.25 mg/kg) group and evaluated pain levels pre, 30 and 60 minutes post medication administration. They also looked at need for morphine rescue medication. The ketamine group had superior pain control and required less rescue medication.
References
Comparison of the analgesic dose of intravenous ketamine versus ketorolac in patients with chest trauma: A randomized double-blind clinical trial
