Inability to recruit during the Covid pandemic

Patients with traumatic rib fractures not receiving regional anesthesia through a epidural or nerve block catheter will be recruited for the study. Once enrolled, they will be randomized to receive either intravenous lidocaine or intravenous saline for control of pain related to their rib fractures. In addition, they will receive other pain medications, such as acetaminophen, gabapentin, and opioid pain medications. Our primary outcome is a decrease in their opioid medication requirements.

Inclusion Criteria:

Patients aged 18 or older with 2+ rib fractures or > 65 with 2+ rib fractures Enrollment within 16 hours of admission Inability to receive epidural placement or other catheter-based regional anesthesia (coagulopathy, anticoagulation, bacteremia or infection over epidural site, patient refusal, vertebral fracture, spinal cord injury, inability to cooperate with procedure, BMI > 40) Isolated rib fracture (no other major injury or anticipation for invasive procedure)

Exclusion Criteria:

Inability to participate in traditional pain measures Severe alcohol withdrawal Chronic pain requiring opiates prior to admission GCS < 13 or inability to report pain Medical instability Positive pressure ventilation, either via non-invasive mask or endotracheal tube Hemodynamic instability or shock Flail chest with clinical evidence of paradoxical rib motion Contraindication to lidocaine History of or current bradycardia (HR < 50) or heart block (Mobitz II or 3rd degree) New onset or uncontrolled seizures Allergy to amide-type local anesthetic

Enrollment in other study that may affect the results of this study

Immediate care providers (nurses, primary teams) will be blinded; however, lidocaine levels will be monitored by the acute pain service, a consulting team providing direct care to the patient, who will not be blinded.