Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 12, 2025
04:19
Minimally Invasive Treatment for Thoracolumbar Burst Fracture Using Sagittal Alignment Screws and A Trauma Reduction Device
Published on: November 8, 2024
451
Comparison of Erector Spinae Plane Blocks Versus Multimodal Pain Management for Traumatic Rib Fractures: A Matched
Caitlin A Fitzgerald1, Sarah Cao2, Alea I Zone2
1Division of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, Department of Surgery, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina.
The Journal of Surgical Research
|October 22, 2023
Summary
Continuous erector spinae plane blocks (ESPB) did not significantly decrease opioid requirements in patients with multiple rib fractures compared to multimodal pain control alone. Further prospective trials are needed to validate these findings for rib fracture pain management.
Area of Science:
- Pain Management
- Regional Anesthesia
- Trauma Surgery
Background:
- Erector spinae plane blocks (ESPB) are common for rib fracture pain.
- Previous studies show ESPB efficacy for pain control.
- No studies compared continuous ESPB to multimodal pain control.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare continuous ESPB with multimodal pain control for patients with multiple rib fractures.
- To determine if continuous ESPB reduces opioid requirements.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective observational cohort study (2016-2021).
- Included patients aged 18+ with ≥3 unilateral rib fractures.
- Primary outcome: total morphine equivalents during admission.
Main Results:
- 142 patients (71 per group) were analyzed.
- No statistically significant difference in opioid use between groups (284.3 ± 244.8 vs. 412.6 ± 622.2, P=0.5).
- A trend towards decreased opioid use in the ESPB group was observed but not significant.
Conclusions:
- Continuous ESPB did not reduce total opioid usage compared to multimodal pain control alone.
- Further prospective, multicenter trials are necessary to validate findings.
- ESPB may not be superior to current best practice for opioid reduction in rib fractures.
