Role of Nerve Block in Management of Multiple Rib Fractures

Summary

* Epidemiology \& Impact Thoracic trauma is a common and serious injury worldwide-especially in developing countries-and carries high rates of morbidity and mortality. Complications arise primarily from hypoventilation, which leads to atelectasis, pneumonia, and respiratory failure. * Key to Reducing Complications: Pain Control Effective analgesia is the cornerstone of preventing respiratory complications. Inadequate pain relief causes patients to splint and hypoventilate, setting the stage for pulmonary collapse and infection. * Conservative Management * Analgesics: Systemic pharmacological pain relief remains the mainstay. * Supportive Measures: Rest, application of ice, and encouragement of deep breathing exercises. * Incentive Spirometry: Promoted in all patients to maintain lung expansion and ward off atelectasis. * Regional Anesthesia Techniques To further improve comfort and respiratory mechanics, ultrasound-guided nerve blocks are employed according to fracture location: * Serratus Anterior Plane Block for anterolateral rib fractures * Thoracic Paravertebral Block for posterior rib fractures * Surgical Intervention Reserved for complex cases-such as flail chest or fractures with risk of organ injury-where stabilization or repair may be necessary. * Identified Gap Despite these options, thoracic surgeons currently lack a standardized, procedure-specific pain management protocol beyond systemic analgesics, highlighting a need for consensus guidelines that integrate pharmacological and regional techniques.

Timeline

Start

2025-12

Primary completion

2026-12

Completion

2027-04

Publications

• Background Kring RM, Mackenzie DC, Wilson CN, Rappold JF, Strout TD, Croft PE. Ultrasound-Guided Serratus Anterior Plane Block (SAPB) Improves Pain Control in Patients With Rib Fractures. J Ultrasound Med. 2022 Nov;41(11):2695-2701. doi: 10.1002/jum.15953. Epub 2022 Feb 2.
• Background Yayik AM, Aydin ME, Tekin E, Ulas AB, Ahiskalioglu A. An alternative plane block for multiple rib fractures: Rhomboid Intercostal and Sub-Serratus block (RISS). Am J Emerg Med. 2019 Dec;37(12):2263.e5-2263.e7. doi: 10.1016/j.ajem.2019.158429. Epub 2019 Sep 6.
• Background Hwang EG, Lee Y. Effectiveness of intercostal nerve block for management of pain in rib fracture patients. J Exerc Rehabil. 2014 Aug 31;10(4):241-4. doi: 10.12965/jer.140137. eCollection 2014 Aug.
• Background Easter A. Management of patients with multiple rib fractures. Am J Crit Care. 2001 Sep;10(5):320-7; quiz 328-9.

Drugs

Indications

No indication recorded.