Pain relief for rib fractures using ultrasound-guided nerve block

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This clinical trial investigates the effectiveness of the serratus anterior plane block (SAPB) in managing pain for patients with multiple rib fractures in the emergency department. It compares the outcomes of patients receiving SAPB to those treated with standard analgesic medications alone. The study aims to assess not only pain relief but also respiratory function and overall clinical outcomes, including the need for additional care and length of hospital stay. By utilizing ultrasound guidance, the trial seeks to evaluate the safety and feasibility of this innovative pain management technique in an acute care setting.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

* Age \>18 years
* \>1 Unilateral, acute rib fractures diagnosed on x-ray or CT imaging
* Patient presenting to the WellSpan York Hospital ED
* Patient requiring IV analgesia or oral opioid to control pain related to rib fractures

Exclusion Criteria:

* Age \<18 years
* Inability to provide informed consent
* Allergy to local anesthesia
* Subsequent visit for rib fractures
* Patients taken emergently to the OR or discharged from the ED
* Significant distracting injuries/polytrauma that would not be expected to be responsive to analgesia from SAPB and confound pain scores, i.e. long bone fractures, intraabdominal injuries, etc.

Where it's running

• Wellspan Health York Hospital
  York, Pennsylvania, United States Recruiting

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Daniel Kreider, MD — WellSpan Health
• Study coordinator: Daniel Kreider, MD
• Email: dkreider3@wellspan.org
• Phone: 717-851-5817

Similar studies

Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.

• RibFix Titan implants for stabilizing rib fractures

  This follow-up will see if using the RibFix Titan implant is safe and helps adults with single or multiple rib fractures recover after surgical fixation.

  Recruiting Zimmer Biomet · Indianapolis, Indiana · NCT07485829

• Morbidity and mortality after serratus anterior plane block for unilateral anterolateral rib fractures

  This study tests whether giving a serratus anterior plane block (SAPB) within 24 hours to adults with multiple unilateral anterolateral rib fractures can reduce complications like pneumonia, shorten hospital stay, improve discharge outcomes, and lower death compared with usual opioid-based pain control.

  Recruiting Albert Einstein College of Medicine · The Bronx, New York · NCT07032766

• Freezing Nerves to Relieve Pain from Rib Fractures

  This study is testing if freezing the nerves can help people with rib fractures feel less pain compared to a fake treatment.

  Recruiting Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre · Toronto, Ontario · NCT05865327

• Using cryoablation to improve pain control after rib fracture surgery

  This study is testing if using cryoablation on certain nerves after rib fracture surgery can help patients feel less pain and use fewer pain medications.

  Recruiting Wake Forest University Health Sciences · Winston-Salem, North Carolina · NCT05415384

How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.