MedTrace Logo

Ultrasound Guided Serratus Anterior Plane Block for Rib Fractures

NCT05748366 · Status: RECRUITING · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 60

Last updated 2025-07-18

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

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

Interventions

PROCEDURE

Serratus Anterior Plane Block (SAPB)

The ultrasound-guided serratus anterior plane block (SAPB) will be performed in a manner previously described in published medical literature. Patients will be consented and monitored. Bupivacaine 0.5% (5 mg/ml) diluted to 30-40 ml will be used in a dose not to exceed 2 mg/kg. The serratus anterior fascial plane will be identified in the 4th/5th intercostal space. The needle will be advanced under real-time ultrasound guidance targeting the superficial serratus anterior fascial plane. The procedure assistant will inject small volumes to hydrodissect the muscle bellies evenly under direct visualization, indicating local anesthetic spread within the fascial plane. Anesthetic will then be injected in 5 ml increments and the needle will be removed. Patient will be continuously monitored on telemetry and pulse-oximetry. Reassessment of the patient will continue for 30 minutes to monitor for signs of local anesthetic systemic toxicity.

DRUG

Standard Analgesic Medications

Analgesic medications will be administered via the intravenous, intramuscular or oral route at the discretion of the medical treatment team.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • WellSpan Health

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Daniel Kreider, MD · WellSpan Health

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2023-03-31
Primary Completion
2027-03-31
Completion
2027-06-30

Countries

  • United States

Study Locations

More Related Trials

Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT05748366 on ClinicalTrials.gov