MedPath

US-guided SAPB for Rib Fractures in the ED

Phase 4
Conditions
Rib Fractures
Rib Fracture Multiple
Interventions
Drug: Fentanyl, morphine, hydromorphone, hydrocodone, acetaminophen, ketorolac, gabapentin, ketamine, ibuprofen
Registration Number
NCT03619785
Lead Sponsor
Andrew A Herring
Brief Summary

The purpose of this randomized controlled study is to determine whether the serratus anterior plane block reduces pain more than the usual treatment for rib fractures in the same amount of time.

Detailed Description

Patients with unilateral rib fractures in the Highland Hospital Emergency Department who agree to participate will be randomized 1:1 to either the control group or the experimental group. Those in the control group will receive the usual oral and/or IV pain medication as needed. The experimental group will receive an ultrasound-guided serratus anterior plane block. Numerical pain rating scale scores at rest and when taking a deep breath will be recorded pre-intervention and at times 0, 20, 40, and 60. At time 60, patients who received the SAPB will receive sensory testing. Patients will be offered additional pain medication as needed at times 20, 40, and 60.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
UNKNOWN
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
70
Inclusion Criteria
  • Males and females 18 years and older, capable of providing informed consent indicating awareness of the investigational nature of the study, in keeping with institutional policy.
  • Written informed consent must be obtained from each patient prior to entering the study.
  • Patients with moderate to severe pain (NRS 4 to 10) as a result of one or more rib fractures occurring at levels T2-T8, measured on a self-reported NRS.
Exclusion Criteria
  • Patient refusal
  • Patients with significant pain from other injuries (as determined at the discretion of the treating physician)
  • Patients deemed critically ill by provider
  • Patients with decompensated psychiatric disorders
  • Pregnant patients (positive urine or serum B-HCG)
  • History of heart block or bradycardia
  • History of uncontrolled seizures
  • Patients allergic to lidocaine, bupivacaine, ropivacaine, or morphine
  • Patients with bilateral rib fractures

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
ControlFentanyl, morphine, hydromorphone, hydrocodone, acetaminophen, ketorolac, gabapentin, ketamine, ibuprofenPatients randomized to the control arm receive usual pain control treatment in the emergency department.
Experimental (SAPB)BupivacainePatients randomized to the experimental arm receive an ultrasound-guided serratus anterior plane block for their rib fracture pain.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change in Numeric Pain Rating Scale score between time 0 and time 60 when comparing block and control groups60 minutes

Change in Numeric Pain Rating Scale scores between time 0 and time 60 between block and control groups: Numeric Pain Rating Scale score at 0 minutes minus Numeric Pain Rating Scale score at 60 minutes, where a score of 0 is no pain and 10 is the worst pain the patient can imagine.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Adverse events60 minutes

Proportion of patients with new onset of seizure, arrhythmias, hyper or hypotension (SBP\<90 or \>180), hypoxia, nausea, lightheadedness, vomiting.

Sensory testing60 minutes

Sensory testing to cold stimulus (alcohol swab) in the block group along the lateral sternal, anterior axillary, and posterior axillary lines at the levels of T2-T10 using a 3-point scale: 0 (unchanged), 1 (reduced), or 2 (no sensation).

Non-opioid medications given (yes/no)20, 40, 60 minutes

NSAID, APAP, Gabapentin administered in block versus control groups.

Change in Numeric Pain Rating Scale score at rest versus when taking a deep breath when comparing block and control groups20, 40, 60 minutes

Change in Numeric Pain Rating Scale score for resting chest pain and dynamic chest pain at 20, 40, and 60 minutes between block and control groups, where a score of 0 is no pain and 10 is the worst pain the patient can imagine.

Successful analgesia for block group20, 40, 60 minutes

Successful analgesia at 20, 40 and 60 minutes: Proportion of patients not receiving morphine dosing.

Difference in total morphine equivalents1, 4, 12, and 24 hours

Difference in total parenteral morphine equivalents received during study period (0 minutes to 60 minutes) and at 4, 12, and 24 hours (unless discharged from the hospital prior to 24 hours) in the block and control groups.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Alameda Health System - Highland Hospital

🇺🇸

Oakland, California, United States

© Copyright 2025. All Rights Reserved by MedPath