Comparison of the Analgesic Efficacy of Serratus Anterior Plane Block and Intercostal Block for Rib Fractures

More than 50% of patients presenting with chest trauma experience rib fractures and these rib fractures are associated with significant morbidity, mortality, and long-term disability. Many of these adverse outcomes result from poorly controlled pain that interferes with breathing, leading to atelectasis, pneumonia, and respiratory failure. Therefore, early provision of adequate analgesia is crucial in the management of these patients. The basic stones of analgesic therapy are oral and intravenous drugs such as paracetamol, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and opioids. However, patients with more significant injuries or comorbidities often require interventional procedures to provide adequate analgesia and avoid opioid-related side effects. Thoracic epidural analgesia and thoracic paravertebral blocks have traditionally been used, but these techniques are associated with side effects and may cause hemodynamic instability. Today, the use of ultrasonography (USG) guided block techniques such as erector spinae plane block (ESPB), serratus anterior plane block (SAPB) and intercostal block (ICB) has increased. These techniques are considered to be simpler and theoretically safer. Although ICB is frequently mentioned in the literature, the publications of new plane blocks such as ESPB and SAPB are new and few in number. In this study, SAPB and ICP to be performed with USG will be evaluated in terms of analgesic effect.