Effect of Partial Rib Resection On the Control of Post-thoracotomy Pain

It is known that severe post thoracotomy pain can be reduced by half with some strategies to prevent pain development. It was thought that partial rib resection would reduce intercostal tension and prevent an uncontrolled fracture. Thus, it is argued that post thoracotomy pain can be reduced. Partial rib resection is applied in clinical practice in selected patient groups. However, we could not find a clinical study on this subject in the English literature. The aim of this study is to determine whether partial rib resection has an effect on the control of thoracotomy pain.

Before the thoracotomy incision, simple randomization will be performed by flipping a coin.

Routine thoracotomy incision will be performed in the control group. In the intervention group, approximately 1 cm segment of the 6th rib will be excised with a rib scissors before the thorax retractor was placed.

Pericostal suture technique will be used in both groups at thoracotomy closure. Demographic information of the cases, preoperative respiratory function parameters, body mass index, Visual Analogue Scale scores, complications and analgesic doses will be recorded in the Case Report Form regularly.

Inclusion criteria

• Participants who underwent thoracotomy in our clinic in 2019-2020
• Participants signing an informed consent form

Exclusion criteria

• Thoracic wall tumor
• Invasion of the thoracic wall by extrathoracic malignancy
• Pleural pathology
• History of previous rib fracture
• History of previous thoracotomy
• History of thoracic radiotherapy
• Emergency surgery
• Simultaneous incisions other than thoracotomy