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Assessment of Morbidity and Mortality Following Serratus Anterior Plane Block (SAPB) for Unilateral Rib Fractures

Who can join

Ages 18 and older · All sexes

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

About the study

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.

Sponsor: Albert Einstein College of Medicine · Participants: 220 · Started: Aug 10, 2025

Contact the study team

• Ariella Gartenberg, MD · Phone: 2017871762
• Michelle Montenegro, MD · Phone: 7189185800

Official record on ClinicalTrials.gov — NCT07032766

Locations in the U.S.

Conditions

• Chest Injuries and Disorders

From ClinicalTrials.gov, data retrieved Sep 30, 2026. Each study sets its own eligibility; the study team decides who can join.