Ultrasound Guided Serratus Anterior Plane Block for Rib Fractures

Description

This study is a single center, randomized controlled trial examining the effect of serratus anterior plane block (SAPB) on pain, PIC scores and other clinical outcomes in emergency department patients with multiple rib fractures in comparison to the use of analgesic medication alone. Objectives 1. Compare SAPB performed in the ED setting to analgesic medication alone with regard to pain, respiratory status and PIC score of patients with multiple rib fractures. 2. Assess the safety and feasibility of performing ultrasound-guided SAPB in the ED. 3. Evaluate outcomes of patients receiving the SAPB in the ED including amount of analgesic medications used, level of care required, need for upgrading level of care, and length of stay.

Conditions

Rib Fracture Multiple

Study Overview

Study Details

Study overview

This study is a single center, randomized controlled trial examining the effect of serratus anterior plane block (SAPB) on pain, PIC scores and other clinical outcomes in emergency department patients with multiple rib fractures in comparison to the use of analgesic medication alone. Objectives 1. Compare SAPB performed in the ED setting to analgesic medication alone with regard to pain, respiratory status and PIC score of patients with multiple rib fractures. 2. Assess the safety and feasibility of performing ultrasound-guided SAPB in the ED. 3. Evaluate outcomes of patients receiving the SAPB in the ED including amount of analgesic medications used, level of care required, need for upgrading level of care, and length of stay.

Ultrasound Guided Serratus Anterior Plane Block Versus Standard Therapy for Analgesic Relief of Rib Fractures in the Emergency Department

Ultrasound Guided Serratus Anterior Plane Block for Rib Fractures

Condition
Rib Fracture Multiple
Intervention / Treatment

-

Contacts and Locations

York

Wellspan Health York Hospital, York, Pennsylvania, United States, 17403

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

For general information about clinical research, read Learn About Studies.

Eligibility 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
  • * 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.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 Years to

Sexes Eligible for Study

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Collaborators and Investigators

WellSpan Health,

Daniel Kreider, MD, PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR, WellSpan Health

Study Record Dates

2025-06-30