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

NCT ID: NCT02295098

Last Updated: 2018-06-08

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

Get a concise snapshot of the trial, including recruitment status, study phase, enrollment targets, and key timeline milestones.

Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

36 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2015-08-19

Study Completion Date

2017-06-30

Brief Summary

Review the sponsor-provided synopsis that highlights what the study is about and why it is being conducted.

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.

Detailed Description

Dive into the extended narrative that explains the scientific background, objectives, and procedures in greater depth.

Conditions

See the medical conditions and disease areas that this research is targeting or investigating.

Rib Fractures Wounds and Injuries

Study Design

Understand how the trial is structured, including allocation methods, masking strategies, primary purpose, and other design elements.

Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

Review each arm or cohort in the study, along with the interventions and objectives associated with them.

Thoracic epidural catheter

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.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Thoracic epidural catheter placement

Intervention Type OTHER

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.

Paracostal catheter

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.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Paracostal catheter placement

Intervention Type OTHER

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.

Interventions

Learn about the drugs, procedures, or behavioral strategies being tested and how they are applied within this trial.

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.

Intervention Type 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.

Intervention Type OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

Check the participation requirements, including inclusion and exclusion rules, age limits, and whether healthy volunteers are accepted.

Inclusion Criteria

* \>/= 3 rib fractures on a single side
* Admitted to the Surgical ICU
* Recruited within 24 hours of admission

Exclusion Criteria

* Patient allergy to local anesthetics
* Patient refusal
* Inability to consent for any reason
* Prisoners
* Age \< 18
* Pregnant women (pregnancy screen performed as part of routine trauma admission labs)
* Absolute contraindications for either thoracic epidural or paracostal pain catheter placement which include:

1. Localized rash or skin infection over the likely site of insertion (We never want to translocate infectious material from the skin to the epidural space or even into the soft tissue where paracostal catheters lay, although for these there is more flexibility in adjusting placement)
2. Spinal/vertebral instability/fracture including any significant vertebral body injury and 3 or more spinous process fractures near the level of desired epidural placement (transverse process fractures are not considered a contraindication)
3. History of extensive back surgery at the level of desired epidural placement
4. Severe aortic stenosis, mitral stenosis, or pulmonary hypertension
5. Inability to correct coagulopathy (to International Normalized Ratio\>1.5)
6. Persistent hemodynamic instability (hypotension with Systolic Blood Pressure\<90 that does not respond to initial fluid boluses and requires ongoing pressors beyond the 72 hour window for enrollment)
7. Inability to cooperate and participate in placement (if intubated and sedated, for example) or to lie in the correct position for placement (lateral decubitus for paracostal pain catheters, either sitting up or lateral decubitus for epidural placement)
8. Concern for elevated intracranial pressure (we imagine these patients will also be intubated)
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

99 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

Meet the organizations funding or collaborating on the study and learn about their roles.

University of Colorado, Denver

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

Identify the individual or organization who holds primary responsibility for the study information submitted to regulators.

Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

Learn about the lead researchers overseeing the trial and their institutional affiliations.

Nina E Glass, MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Denver Health Medical Center, Department of Surgery, University of Colorado, Denver

Locations

Explore where the study is taking place and check the recruitment status at each participating site.

Denver Health Medical Center

Denver, Colorado, United States

Site Status

Countries

Review the countries where the study has at least one active or historical site.

United States

References

Explore related publications, articles, or registry entries linked to this study.

Simon BJ, Cushman J, Barraco R, Lane V, Luchette FA, Miglietta M, Roccaforte DJ, Spector R; EAST Practice Management Guidelines Work Group. Pain management guidelines for blunt thoracic trauma. J Trauma. 2005 Nov;59(5):1256-67. doi: 10.1097/01.ta.0000178063.77946.f5. No abstract available.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 16385313 (View on PubMed)

Truitt MS, Mooty RC, Amos J, Lorenzo M, Mangram A, Dunn E. Out with the old, in with the new: a novel approach to treating pain associated with rib fractures. World J Surg. 2010 Oct;34(10):2359-62. doi: 10.1007/s00268-010-0651-9.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 20567973 (View on PubMed)

Sirmali M, Turut H, Topcu S, Gulhan E, Yazici U, Kaya S, Tastepe I. A comprehensive analysis of traumatic rib fractures: morbidity, mortality and management. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2003 Jul;24(1):133-8. doi: 10.1016/s1010-7940(03)00256-2.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 12853057 (View on PubMed)

Moon MR, Luchette FA, Gibson SW, Crews J, Sudarshan G, Hurst JM, Davis K Jr, Johannigman JA, Frame SB, Fischer JE. Prospective, randomized comparison of epidural versus parenteral opioid analgesia in thoracic trauma. Ann Surg. 1999 May;229(5):684-91; discussion 691-2. doi: 10.1097/00000658-199905000-00011.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 10235527 (View on PubMed)

Holcomb JB, McMullin NR, Kozar RA, Lygas MH, Moore FA. Morbidity from rib fractures increases after age 45. J Am Coll Surg. 2003 Apr;196(4):549-55. doi: 10.1016/S1072-7515(02)01894-X.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 12691929 (View on PubMed)

Ho AM, Karmakar MK, Critchley LA. Acute pain management of patients with multiple fractured ribs: a focus on regional techniques. Curr Opin Crit Care. 2011 Aug;17(4):323-7. doi: 10.1097/MCC.0b013e328348bf6f.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 21716105 (View on PubMed)

Grider JS, Mullet TW, Saha SP, Harned ME, Sloan PA. A randomized, double-blind trial comparing continuous thoracic epidural bupivacaine with and without opioid in contrast to a continuous paravertebral infusion of bupivacaine for post-thoracotomy pain. J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth. 2012 Feb;26(1):83-9. doi: 10.1053/j.jvca.2011.09.003. Epub 2011 Nov 17.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 22100213 (View on PubMed)

Gebhardt R, Mehran RJ, Soliz J, Cata JP, Smallwood AK, Feeley TW. Epidural versus ON-Q local anesthetic-infiltrating catheter for post-thoracotomy pain control. J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth. 2013 Jun;27(3):423-6. doi: 10.1053/j.jvca.2013.02.017.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 23672860 (View on PubMed)

Dahlgren N, Tornebrandt K. Neurological complications after anaesthesia. A follow-up of 18,000 spinal and epidural anaesthetics performed over three years. Acta Anaesthesiol Scand. 1995 Oct;39(7):872-80. doi: 10.1111/j.1399-6576.1995.tb04190.x.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 8848884 (View on PubMed)

Carrier FM, Turgeon AF, Nicole PC, Trepanier CA, Fergusson DA, Thauvette D, Lessard MR. Effect of epidural analgesia in patients with traumatic rib fractures: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Can J Anaesth. 2009 Mar;56(3):230-42. doi: 10.1007/s12630-009-9052-7. Epub 2009 Feb 11.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 19247744 (View on PubMed)

Bulger EM, Edwards T, Klotz P, Jurkovich GJ. Epidural analgesia improves outcome after multiple rib fractures. Surgery. 2004 Aug;136(2):426-30. doi: 10.1016/j.surg.2004.05.019.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 15300210 (View on PubMed)

Bulger EM, Arneson MA, Mock CN, Jurkovich GJ. Rib fractures in the elderly. J Trauma. 2000 Jun;48(6):1040-6; discussion 1046-7. doi: 10.1097/00005373-200006000-00007.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 10866248 (View on PubMed)

Brasel KJ, Guse CE, Layde P, Weigelt JA. Rib fractures: relationship with pneumonia and mortality. Crit Care Med. 2006 Jun;34(6):1642-6. doi: 10.1097/01.CCM.0000217926.40975.4B.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 16625122 (View on PubMed)

Mohta M, Verma P, Saxena AK, Sethi AK, Tyagi A, Girotra G. Prospective, randomized comparison of continuous thoracic epidural and thoracic paravertebral infusion in patients with unilateral multiple fractured ribs--a pilot study. J Trauma. 2009 Apr;66(4):1096-101. doi: 10.1097/TA.0b013e318166d76d.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 19359920 (View on PubMed)

Truitt MS, Murry J, Amos J, Lorenzo M, Mangram A, Dunn E, Moore EE. Continuous intercostal nerve blockade for rib fractures: ready for primetime? J Trauma. 2011 Dec;71(6):1548-52; discussion 1552. doi: 10.1097/TA.0b013e31823c96e0.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 22182865 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

Review additional registry numbers or institutional identifiers associated with this trial.

14-1979

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

More Related Trials

Additional clinical trials that may be relevant based on similarity analysis.

Ultrasound-guided Erector Spinae Plane Blocks
NCT04916691 COMPLETED EARLY_PHASE1
Cryo Rib Fracture Study
NCT06347874 RECRUITING PHASE4