NCT02295098

Comparison of Epidural and Paracostal Catheter Placement for Pain Control After Rib Fractures

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 36 (actual)
• Sponsor: University of Colorado, Denver · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 99 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The investigators plan to compare the incidence of successful placement of epidural pain catheters versus paracostal catheters for the control of pain and prevention of pulmonary complications for adult trauma patients with blunt chest wall trauma resulting in multiple rib fractures. When a trauma patient has \> or = to 3 rib fractures on the same side, is being admitted to the Surgical ICU, and is encountered within 72 hours from the time of their injury, they will be eligible for the study. If they (or a proxy) choose to participate, consent will be obtained and they will randomly be assigned to receive either an epidural or paracostal catheter for pain control. The aim of the study is to determine if paracostal catheters are noninferior to epidurals for controlling pain in multisystem trauma patients. Secondarily the investigators will evaluate success and time of placement of the assigned intervention and follow the patient throughout their hospital course to compare the success of analgesia provided by each modality along with any complications and/or benefits of the two types of catheters.

Conditions

• Rib Fractures
• Wounds and Injuries

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Thoracic epidural catheter placement	Thoracic epidurals work by delivering local anesthetics and narcotics to the epidural space, which then diffuse into the spinal nerve roots and block the transmission of pain from the chest wall to the spinal cord and brain.
OTHER	Paracostal catheter placement	Paracostal catheters run along the outer surface of the chest wall and act by delivering local anesthetics to the intercostal nerves as traverse the lower border of the ribs.

Timeline

• Start date: 2015-08-19
• Primary completion: 2017-06-01
• Completion: 2017-06-01
• First posted: 2014-11-20
• Last updated: 2018-06-08

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States