Nerve block may help rib fracture patients breathe easier
NCT ID NCT05105399
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study looks at whether a nerve block called a serratus plane block can help people with multiple broken ribs breathe better and feel less pain. 72 adults with at least two broken ribs on one side will be split into three groups: standard painkillers alone, standard painkillers plus a continuous nerve block, or standard painkillers plus a single-shot nerve block. The main goal is to see if the continuous nerve block improves lung function compared to the other options.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- serratus plane block (a nerve block injection near the ribs)
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could offer a better way to manage pain from rib fractures, helping patients breathe easier and possibly reducing complications like pneumonia.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-stage study with only 72 people, so results may not apply to everyone. The nerve block carries rare risks like bleeding or infection, and it may not improve breathing more than standard care.
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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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 72 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Expected to start
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Jun 2026
An estimate. Start dates often move.
- Expected to finish
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May 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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Children (under 18), adults (18 to 64) and older adults (65 and over)
- 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: 1. Chest trauma with at least 2 monolateral rib fractures (monofocal or multifocal) with no flail chest 2. Age\>18 years 3. Hospital admission 4. Ability to provide written informed consensus 5. Awake patient, spontaneous ventilation
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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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ASST GOM Niguarda
Milan, 20162, Italy
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?