CompletedNot Applicable

Erector Spinae Plane Blocks for the Early Analgesia of Rib Fractures in Trauma: a Feasibility Randomised Controlled Trial With Embedded Qualitative Assessment

United Kingdom27 participantsStarted 2022-07-01

Plain-language summary

To assess the feasibility and inform the design and conduct of a pragmatically conducted, interventional, multi-centre RCT in adult patients admitted to UK major trauma centres with rib fractures examining ESP block as an analgesic adjunct to existing multimodal analgesia in the early management of rib fracture pain.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: Age ≥ 18 Mechanism of injury blunt thoracic trauma Radiographic evidence of 1 or more new traumatic rib fractures Moderate or severe unilateral acute pain (defined as 11-point numerical rating scale (NRS) pain \>4 when patient performing vital capacity breath or effective cough) at time of enrolment. Patients may have bilateral fractures, but pain must be unilateral. Exclusion Criteria: Patient refusal or inability to give informed written consent for any reason Thoracic injury requiring emergent operative or interventional radiology management Allergy to local anaesthetic Infection at site of ESP block Actual or estimated

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Recruitment rate vs target

Timeframe: 18 months

Retention rate

Timeframe: 18 months

Qualitative feedback

Timeframe: 18 months

Trial details

NCT IDNCT07494851

SponsorNottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2024-02-12

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Rib Fractures trials

Plain-language summary

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.