Erector Spinae Plane Block Versus Thoracic Epidural Analgesia in Patients With Multiple Fracture Ribs

Erector spinae plane (ESP) block is a recently described technique which may be an alternative to Paravertebral block (PVB) for providing thoracic analgesia. It involves injection of local anesthetic into the fascial plane deep to erector spinae muscle. ESP is a more superficial block with a better defined end-point injection between the bony transverse process and erector spinae muscle. A more superficial ultrasound-guided block will be faster to perform and less painful for the patient. ESP does not have the same risk of pneumothorax as PVB.

Epidural analgesia has become the standard of care. Although thoracic epidurals provide excellent analgesia for the management of rib fractures, they are limited to a certain population due to patient factors and side-effects. Many trauma patients have other injuries which contraindicate the use of epidurals, or which prevent positioning for insertion. There are disadvantages to thoracic epidural analgesia. They are technically challenging to insert, with a risk of dural puncture or spinal cord injury. Adverse effects include hypotension, and if opioids used, urinary retention and pruritus. Patients can develop a motor block and are unable to mobilize with an epidural in situ.

Inclusion criteria

• Patients with multiple fracture ribs.

Exclusion criteria

• Patient refusal.
• Patients with pre-existing infection at the block site.
• Coagulopathy.
• Allergy to local anesthetics.
• Pre-existing neurological deficits.
• Psychiatric illness.