Can ketamine or lidocaine reduce opioid use for broken rib pain?
NCT ID NCT04781673
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jul 23, 2026 · Updated 2 times
Summary
This study tests whether ketamine or lidocaine infusions can better manage pain from multiple broken ribs, reducing the need for opioids. About 74 adults with at least three broken ribs will receive one of the two medications for 72 hours. The goal is to improve breathing, reduce complications, and speed recovery.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
-
Phase 4
Runs after approval, following long-term safety and how well the treatment works in everyday use.
- Participants
-
About 74 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
-
Apr 2021
- Expected to finish
-
Jul 2026
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
-
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
-
18 years and older
- Sex
-
Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
-
Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Adults ≥ 18 years old 2. ≥ 3 traumatic blunt rib fractures 3. Enrollment within 16 hours of being admitted to the hospital 4. Patients whom in the investigator's clinical judgement, would require escalated pain control regiments in the future and would potentially benefit from participation in this study in terms of pain control. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Patients receiving any regional/neuraxial anesthetic techniques or ketamine infusion before randomization 2. Adults with diminished decision-making capacity 3. Adults of limited English proficiency/non-English speakers 4. Prisoners 5. Pregnant or breastfeeding women 6. Patient admission weight greater than 120 kg 7. Patients with any of the following medical history: 1. Active delirium (as defined by Confusion Assessment Method) 2. Dementia 3. Psychosis 4. Glaucoma 5. Heart block (except with patients with a functioning artificial pacemaker) 6. Congestive heart failure (ejection fraction \<20% recorded in last year) 7. Adams-Stokes syndrome 8. Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome 8. Patient is unable to communicate with staff for pain assessments at time of enrollment 9. Most recent documented Glasgow Coma Score \<15 at the time of study enrollment 10. Severe bradycardia (heart rate \<50 bpm based on last vital sign recorded at time of study enrollment) 11. Sustained hypertension (systolic blood pressure \>180 mm Hg or diastolic blood pressure \>100 mm Hg for at least 3 sets of vital signs in a row prior to study enrollment) 12. Any seizure suspected or identified during hospital admission 13. Patient with active acute coronary syndrome obtained from admission problem list 14. Patients with known hepatic disease or acute liver failure a. Acute liver failure on admission defined as either: i. International normalized ratio \> 1.5, without being on home anticoagulation ii. Aspartate aminotransferase or Alanine aminotransferase greater than 120 IU/L (3 times upper limit of normal) b. Known hepatic disease defined as past medical history of Child Turcotte Pugh (Child's) score C 15. Patients with a history of end-stage renal disease or admission creatinine clearance (CrCl) ≤30 ml/min a. CrCl will be based on Cockcroft-Gault equation from admission labs 16. Use of antiarrhythmic medication therapy prior or during admission a. Amiodarone, sotalol, dofetilide, dronedarone, mexilitine 17. Patients with a known allergy/sensitivity to lidocaine or ketamine, amide anesthetics, or components of the solution 18. Patients who, in the investigator's opinion, should not be included in this study.
Get updates
Get notified about this study
Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for Rib fracture multiple are added.
Genom att skicka in godkänner du våra Användarvillkor
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.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Corewell Health West
Grand Rapids, Michigan, 49503, United States
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
- Two drugs, one nerve block: which keeps rib fracture pain away longer?
- Fixing broken ribs with surgery may cut pain better than drugs alone
- Could a simple nerve block cut pneumonia risk after rib fractures?
- Can a simple patch replace opioids for broken ribs in seniors?
- Ultrasound-Guided epidurals: a missed opportunity?
- Pain relief showdown for broken ribs: IV lidocaine vs nerve block