Recruiting

Serratus Anterior Plane Block

Sponsor:

Albert Einstein College of Medicine

Code:

NCT07032766

Conditions

Pain Management

Rib Fracture Multiple

Serratus Anterior Plane Block

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Study Details

Brief summary:

The goal of this observational study is to learn about the long-term effects of the serratus anterior plane block (SAPB) in adult patients who suffered multiple unilateral anterolateral rib fractures within 24 hours of patient presentation to the emergency department. The main question it aims to answer is:

Does the SAPB for multiple anterolateral rib fractures demonstrate reduction in patient morbidity and mortality, including incidence of pneumonia, length of hospital stay, discharge disposition, and death, as compared to standard analgesic regimens.

The SAPB will be performed if a physician trained in the SAPB is available within 24 hours of injury. If a trained physician is not available and the patient meets inclusion criteria, they will receive parental analgesia with opioid therapy. They will be followed until date of hospital discharge, up until 60 days.

Conditions

Pain Management

Rib Fracture Multiple

Serratus Anterior Plane Block

Study ID

NCT07032766

Start date

Aug 10, 2025

Status verified date

Aug, 2026

Completion date

Jul, 2027

Anticipated

Primary completion date

Jul, 2027

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Patients over 18 years of age being treated in the Emergency Department at Jacobi Medical Center
  • Presenting within 24 hours of injury
  • Patient with 2 or more unilateral, anterior or lateral rib fractures
  • Able to provide consent (patient or health care proxy)
  • Clinical team believes the patient will require inpatient admission at the time of enrollment

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Patients in traumatic arrest or hemodynamic instability
  • Patient expected to be discharged from the hospital within 24 hours
  • Prisoner
  • Pregnancy
  • Children less than 18 years of age
  • The patient is known or is suspected to be allergic to anesthetic
  • Significant pain from another traumatic and distracting injury
  • Patients without the ability to consent (or no health care proxy to consent)
  • Patients with bilateral or posterior rib fractures

Study Design

Enrollment

220 participants

Anticipated

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

Serratus Anterior Plane Block (SAPB)

Following visualization of the serratus anterior muscle, the latissimus dorsi muscle, and the pleural line, and creating a skin wheel at the puncture site, a 22-gauge 3.5 or 4 inch echogenic PAJUNK® SonoBlock II needle will be inserted just lateral to the transducer at 45 degrees. The needle will be visualized in-plane under real time ultrasound guidance to ensure correct placement between the latissimus dorsi and serratus anterior muscle. 20 ml of bupivacaine hydrochloride 0.25% will be infiltrated into the superficial plane and local anesthetic spread will be observed on ultrasound. Ultrasound images will be obtained pre-procedure, during, and post procedure to demonstrate that the needle tip is away from the pleura and appropriate hydrodissection of muscle fascia occurs.

Non-SAPB

Patients in this arm will receive IV analgesia, mainly opioid therapy.

Primary outcome measure

  • Number of Patients with Hospital Acquired Pneumonia (HAP) Events [ Time Frame: From time of ED arrival until hospital discharge, up until 90 days ]
  • Days of Hospital Length of Stay [ Time Frame: ED arrival to hospital discharge, up until 90 days ]
  • Discharge Disposition [ Time Frame: ED admission to discharge , up until 90 days ]
  • Length of stay (Days) in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) [ Time Frame: ED admission to hospital discharge, up until 90 days ]
  • Cause of death [ Time Frame: ED admission until hospital discharge, up until 90 days ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Central contacts

Ariella Gartenberg, MD

2017871762ariella.applebaum@gmail.com

Michelle Montenegro, MD

7189185800michelle.a.montenegro@gmail.com

Locations

Jacobi Medical Center

Recruiting

The Bronx, New York, United States, 10461

Contacts

Ariella Gartenberg, MD

201-787-1762ariella.applebaum@gmail.com

Principal Investigator:

Michelle Montenegro, MD

More Information

Sponsor

Albert Einstein College of Medicine

Last update posted

Aug 19, 2026

Last verified

Aug, 2026

Keywords

  • serratus anterior plane block
  • rib fractures
  • mortality
  • morbidity

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-09-10. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by Albert Einstein College of Medicine on 2026-08-19.