As per the outcomes of a randomized controlled trial published in ‘The American Journal of Emergency Medicine’, the use of serratus anterior plane block (SAPB) was found to be an effective part of multimodal analgesia in relieving acute pain due to rib fractures.

Şeyma Tekşen et al. assessed the total analgesic consumption and pain scores in the patients with rib fracture pain.

Sixty patients with rib fracture and NRS pain scores (Numeric Rating Scale) greater than equal to 4 were considered. The patients were randomized to either SAPB (group S) or control group (group C). The overall tramadol usage in 24 hours was regarded as the primary outcome. The NRS scores (following the use of Patient Controlled Analgesia (PCA) at 30 minutes, 1st hour, 2nd hour, 4th hour, 6th hour, 12th hour and 24th hour), peripheral oxygen saturation (first and 24th hour after PCA use), chronic pain and complications were regarded as secondary outcomes.

A significant reduction in total tramadol use in group S (p = 0.02) was observed. In group S, the NRS scores at the above mentioned periods were significant than in group C. The patients reporting chronic pain at rest and during effort also considerably decreased in group S. Only 1 patient-reported pain during effort, details in the table below:

Hence, patients with pain due to rib fractures can be benefited from SAPB.