Rib fractures are one of the most common injuries in trauma patients. These fractures are
associated with significant pain as well as decreased ability to inspire deeply or cough to
clear secretions, which together lead to pulmonary complications and a high degree of
morbidity and mortality. Peripheral nerve blocks as well as epidural blocks have been used
with success to improve pain control in rib fracture patients and have been associated with
decreased pulmonary complications and improved outcomes. However, a single-injection nerve
block lasts less than 24 hours; and, even a continuous nerve block is generally limited to
3-4 days. The pain from rib fractures usually persists for multiple weeks or months. In
contrast to local anesthetic-induced nerve blocks, a prolonged block lasting a few
weeks/months may be provided by freezing the nerve using a process called "cryoneurolysis".
The goal of this multicenter, randomized, double-masked, sham-controlled, parallel-arm study
is to evaluate the potential of cryoanalgesia to decrease pain and improve pulmonary
mechanics in patients with rib fractures.