Randomized Control Trial, Cryoablation as an Adjunct to Surgical Stabilization of Rib Fractures

Eligibility Criteria

• * The patient is admitted to the trauma service.
• * The patient has multiple displaced rib fractures (≥2 ribs), offered fixation, and consents to SSRF
• * The patient is not being treated for chronic pain
• * The patient is \>18 years of age.
• * Surgery anticipated \<120 hours from injury
• * Age \< 18 years or ≥ 80 years
• * Flail chest: either radiographic or clinical. Radiographic flail chest is defined on CT chest as ≥ 2 ribs each fractured in ≥ 2 places. Clinical flail is defined as visualization of a segment of chest wall with paradoxical motion on physical exam.
• * Moderate or severe traumatic brain injury (Intra-cranial hemorrhage visualized on CT head with GCS at the time of consideration for enrollment \< 12)
• * Prior or expected emergency exploratory laparotomy during this admission
• * Prior or expected emergency thoracotomy during this admission
• * Prior or expected emergency craniotomy during this admission
• * Spinal cord injury
• * Pelvic fracture that has required, or is expected to require, operative intervention during this admission
• * The patient was unable to accomplish activities of daily living independently prior to injury (e.g., dressing, bathing, preparing meals)
• * The patient is incarcerated
• * The patient is known to be pregnant
• * Unable to perform Video Assisted Thoracoscopy (VATS) at time of SSRF due to lung isolation or previous pathology