Pediatric analgesia and sedation for the management of orthopedic conditions.

Orthopedic injuries are common in the emergency department; this is especially true in children. The orthopedist must often supervise sedation and analgesia for the injured child. While the techniques of conscious sedation have improved, the therapeutic index between adequate and excessive sedation is much narrower in children than adults, especially for painful procedures. The purpose of this review is to outline a reasonable approach to sedation and analgesia in the pediatric patient. In addition, current monitoring guidelines are reviewed, as well as the basic pharmacology of the most commonly used drugs.