Ultrasound Guided Serratus Anterior Plane Block in ED Patients With Rib Fractures

Ultrasound Guided Serratus Anterior Plane Block in ED Patients With Rib Fractures,

The goal of this clinical trial is to test the effectiveness of the Serratus Anterior Plane Block in patients with rib fractures. The main questions it aims to answer are:

• Determine if UG-SAPB results in an improved pain, incentive spirometry, and cough ability (PIC) score when compared to usual care over the first five hours.
• Evaluate if UG-SAPB results in fewer opioid medications administered when compared to usual care over the first 24 hours.

Participants will undergo the Serratus Anterior Plane. Researchers will compare this to usual care to see if this intervention improves pulmonary function and reduces opioid requirements for ED patients with rib fractures.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Radiology confirmed anterior or lateral rib fractures either on X-ray or chest computed tomography CT
• pain score of 5/10.
• Patients must be able to verbalize how much pain they are having on an 11-point Numeric Rating Pain Scale
• perform an incentive spirometry and be able to cough on command

Exclusion Criteria:

• isolated rib fractures that do not include ribs T3-T9
• penetrating trauma, pregnancy
• requiring immediate surgical or procedural intervention
• known allergy to amide-type local anesthetics
• have a painful distracting injury