3 or More Rib Fractures Clinical Trial
Official title:
Thoracic Epidural Analgesia Compared to Thoracic Paravertebral Pump Infusion for Pain Management in Patients With Three or More Rib Fractures
Rib fractures are a common injury of trauma patients and can cause significant pain which,
if inadequately treated, can lead to impaired breathing, lung collapse, and respiratory
failure. Hence, it is crucial to manage pain associated with rib fractures. Currently,
epidurals are used to treat the pain, but placement can be risky as rib fractures are often
associated with other injuries and complications.
An alternative pain management option is the ON-Q® Pain Relief System. It is an FDA-approved
device that automatically and continuously delivers medication to the region of the thoracic
intercostal nerves. One study by Truitt et al (2010)demonstrated that the ON-Q® system
effectively reduced pain and increased lung volumes after one hour, in patients with three
or more rib fractures. However, that study sample was small and did not have a comparison
group. In this study, we will compare two groups: 1) ON-Q system and 2) epidural analgesia.
We hypothesize that trauma patients with three or more rib fractures, who receive pain
management through the ON-Q® Pain Relief System achieve discharge criteria earlier and thus
have a shorter hospital length of stay (LOS) when compared with epidural analgesia.
n/a
Allocation: Randomized, Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment, Masking: Open Label, Primary Purpose: Supportive Care