Continuous Intercostal Nerve Blockade for Traumatic Rib Fractures
Status:
Terminated
Trial end date:
2016-11-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Rib fractures are common injuries in accident patients and can be associated with significant
pain during recovery. If poorly controlled, pain from splinting due to rib fractures can
result in difficulty in breathing leading to incomplete expansion of lung, and even the need
to put a patient on a ventilator to help them breathe. Therefore, pain control is critical in
managing patients with rib fractures. To date, many studies have shown the effectiveness of
continuous intercostal nerve blockade (a slow release of pain medications at the site of
injury that prevents the transmission of pain signals). This approach has never been studied
in a randomized fashion in rib fracture patients, and has never been compared to
patient-controlled narcotic pain medication, commonly used at many hospitals. The purpose of
this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of the placement of an elastomeric infusion pump
(a small, external, wearable balloon used to deliver medication over time) attached to a
continuous infusion catheter or "soaker" catheter (a tube which releases the pain medication
through tiny holes in it, right at the site of injury) to deliver local anesthetic medication
to reduce pain caused by two or more rib fractures.