Nerve block may shorten hospital stays for broken ribs
NCT ID NCT05642026
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tests whether a continuous nerve block (CINB) plus standard pain medication works better than pain medication alone for people with multiple broken ribs. 180 adults with at least two rib fractures will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. The main goal is to see if the nerve block reduces how long patients stay in the hospital.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Ropivacaine (a local anesthetic) given continuously via a catheter near the ribs
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could give rib fracture patients better pain control and shorter hospital stays.
- What could go wrong
- This is a single-center, non-blinded trial, so results may be biased or not apply to all hospitals. The nerve block carries risks like infection or catheter problems.
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
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Phase 4
Runs after approval, following long-term safety and how well the treatment works in everyday use.
- Participants
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About 180 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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Sep 2025
- Expected to finish
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Feb 2027
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 years and older
- 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.
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: * Subjects will be at least 18 years old * Subjects will have 2 or more identified rib fractures * Subjects will be willing to provide informed consent for procedure * Subjects will be identified as appropriate for initiation of continuous nerve block therapy for treatment of rib fracture associated pain. Exclusion Criteria: * Documented allergy to study medication * Epidural catheter use * Prisoners * Refusal of CINB therapy
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Get notified about this study
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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
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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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
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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University of Kentucky Medical Center
RECRUITINGLexington, Kentucky, 40536, 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
- 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
- Rib fracture surgery: does age matter more than injury severity?