ReviewCurrent pain and headache reports2023
Analgesic Techniques for Rib Fractures-A Comprehensive Review Article.
Review in Current pain and headache reports, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 13 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
13 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 22 citations in OpenAlex.
- Effect of ultrasound-guided fascial plane block (UGPB) on pain control of rib fractures: a systematic review and meta-analysis.BMC anesthesiology · 2026Pooled it
- Dexmedetomidine for Analgesia in Nonintubated Patients With Traumatic Rib Fractures: A Randomized Clinical Trial.JAMA surgery · 2025Trial
- Comparison of the analgesic dose of intravenous ketamine versus ketorolac in patients with chest trauma: A randomized double-blind clinical trial.Academic emergency medicine : official journal of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine · 2025Trial
- Comparison of the analgesic efficacy of ultrasound-guided superficial serratus anterior plane block and intercostal nerve block for rib fractures: a randomized controlled trial.BMC anesthesiology · 2025Trial
- Early treatment goal uncertainty as a barrier to regional analgesia and respiratory deterioration in traumatic rib fractures: a propensity-weighted analysis.European journal of trauma and emergency surgery : official publication of the European Trauma Society · 2026Observational
- Evaluation of a rib fracture management pathway in an Australian tertiary trauma hospital.The Journal of international medical research · 2026Article
- Erector spinae plane catheters: a potentially safer alternative in anticoagulated rib fracture patients.Proceedings (Baylor University. Medical Center) · 2026Article
- A Plea for a Paradigm Shift from X-Ray to Ultrasound in Adults: An Update for Emergency Physicians, General Practitioners, Orthopedists and Sports Medicine Physicians.Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Review
- Combined opioid-sodium aescinate therapy in blunt thoracic trauma: retrospective evaluation.Frontiers in pharmacology · 2025Article
- Article
- Surgical stabilization of rib fractures (SSRF): the WSES and CWIS position paper.World journal of emergency surgery : WJES · 2024Review
- Treatment of traumatic rib fractures: an overview of current evidence and future perspectives.Journal of thoracic disease · 2024Review
- Bedside percutaneous cryoneurolysis technique for management of acute rib fracture pain in adult trauma patients.Trauma surgery & acute care open · 2024Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
9 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
purpose of reviewRib fractures are a common traumatic injury that has been traditionally treated with systemic opioids and non-opioid analgesics. Due to the adverse effects of opioid analgesics, regional anesthesia techniques have become an increasingly promising alternative. This review article aims to explore the efficacy, safety, and constraints of medical management and regional anesthesia techniques in alleviating pain related to rib fractures. RECENT
findingsRecently, opioid analgesia, thoracic epidural analgesia (TEA), and paravertebral block (PVB) have been favored options in the pain management of rib fractures. TEA has positive analgesic effects, and many studies vouch for its efficacy; however, it is contraindicated for many patients. PVB is a viable alternative to those with contraindications to TEA and exhibits promising outcomes compared to other regional anesthesia techniques; however, a failure rate of up to 10% and adverse complications challenge its administration in trauma settings. Serratus anterior plane blocks (SAPB) and erector spinae blocks (ESPB) serve as practical alternatives to TEA or PVB with lower incidences of adverse effects while exhibiting similar levels of analgesia. ESPB can be performed by trained emergency physicians, making it a feasible procedure to perform that is low-risk and efficient in pain management. Compared to the other techniques, intercostal nerve block (ICNB) had less analgesic impact and required concurrent intravenous medication to achieve comparable outcomes to the other blocks. The regional anesthesia techniques showed great success in improving pain scores and expediting recovery in many patients. However, choosing the optimal technique may not be so clear and will depend on the patient's case and the team's preferences. The peripheral nerve blocks have impressive potential in the future and may very well surpass neuraxial techniques; however, further research is needed to prove their efficacy and weaknesses.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.