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

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