Intercostal nerve cryoablation for control of traumatic rib fracture pain: A case report

Pain from traumatic rib fractures presents a source of major morbidity and mortality. Prior studies have reported 59% of patients continue to have persistent pain at 2 months post injury. Most modern analgesia modalities have short duration of effect (<72 h) and require repeated doses to achieve adequate effect. There are few studies that address long-term analgesia treatment for these injuries. Intercostal cryoneurolysis (IC) is a technique of long-term chest wall analgesia previously studied in thoracic surgery and pediatric chest wall reconstruction. This technique may also be an effective treatment for rib fracture pain. Presented is a case of successful control of rib fracture pain with IC used as an adjunct to surgical stabilization of rib fractures (SSRF). This is followed by a discussion of IC's role in the treatment of traumatic rib fracture pain.