Freezing nerves during rib surgery may cut painkiller use
NCT ID NCT05415384
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 30, 2026 · Updated 2 times
Summary
This study tests whether freezing certain nerves (cryoablation) during surgery to fix broken ribs can help control pain better than surgery alone. About 80 adults with multiple broken ribs will be randomly assigned to receive either the standard surgery or surgery plus nerve freezing. The main goal is to see if the freezing reduces the amount of strong painkillers needed after the operation.
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Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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About 80 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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Aug 2022
- Expected to finish
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Nov 2026
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 to 80 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
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Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * The patient is admitted to the trauma service. * The patient has multiple displaced rib fractures (≥2 ribs), offered fixation, and consents to SSRF * The patient is not being treated for chronic pain * The patient is \>18 years of age. * Surgery anticipated \<120 hours from injury Exclusion Criteria: * Age \< 18 years or ≥ 80 years * Flail chest: either radiographic or clinical. Radiographic flail chest is defined on CT chest as ≥ 2 ribs each fractured in ≥ 2 places. Clinical flail is defined as visualization of a segment of chest wall with paradoxical motion on physical exam. * Moderate or severe traumatic brain injury (Intra-cranial hemorrhage visualized on CT head with GCS at the time of consideration for enrollment \< 12) * Prior or expected emergency exploratory laparotomy during this admission * Prior or expected emergency thoracotomy during this admission * Prior or expected emergency craniotomy during this admission * Spinal cord injury * Pelvic fracture that has required, or is expected to require, operative intervention during this admission * The patient was unable to accomplish activities of daily living independently prior to injury (e.g., dressing, bathing, preparing meals) * The patient is incarcerated * The patient is known to be pregnant * Unable to perform Video Assisted Thoracoscopy (VATS) at time of SSRF due to lung isolation or previous pathology
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
How to take part
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The places running it
1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
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A doctor treating you
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Contacts and locations
Locations
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Wake Forest University Health Sciences
RECRUITINGWinston-Salem, North Carolina, 27157, United States
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