Testing Cryoneurolysis against a placebo for rib fractures
Official title: UltrasouNd-guided Percutaneous Intercostal Nerve Cryoneurolysis for Analgesia Following Traumatic Rib Fracture
UltrasouNd-guided Percutaneous Intercostal Nerve Cryoneurolysis for Analgesia Following Traumatic Rib Fracture, a Pilot Randomized Control Trial (UNPIN Trial)
- 2 groups
- One site, in Toronto
- Recruiting
Interventions
- Medical procedure
Cryoneurolysis
Cryoneurolysis will be performed on the intercostal nerve associated with each fractured rib using a handheld cryoneurolysis machine (Iovera). Cryoneurolysis will consist of two 103 second cycles (includes cooling, ice ball formation and warming time) per rib fracture level. Ultrasound guidance will be used to identify appropriate rib fracture levels and to target the device tip in real time. All participants will also receive standard multimodal analgesia and ESP catheter infusion.
- Medical procedure
Sham Cryoneurolysis
Participants in the control group will receive sham CN (i.e., application of device without skin puncture or activation of unit) to maintain participant blinding. All participants will also receive standard multimodal analgesia and ESP catheter infusion.
Canadian Sites (1)
1 of 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
Toronto, Ontario
Eligibility Criteria
See who this study is looking for12 criteria
The trial’s own eligibility text, word for word from the registry. Only the trial site can say who takes part.
Inclusion
- +Unilateral traumatic rib fractures (3 to 8)
- +Candidate for ESP block catheter
- +Within 48hrs of admission to hospital
Exclusion
- −Contraindications for ESP catheter placement (pre-existing medical/neurological/hematologic diseases, localized infection/trauma at siteTrial siteA hospital or clinic where a study is actually run.Read more → of intervention, allergy to amide local anesthetics)
- −Lack of patient consentInformed consentThe process of being told what taking part involves, then choosing freely.Read more →; unlikely to comply with follow upFollow-upContinued check-ins after the treatment part is finished.Read more →
- −Unable to use Patient Controlled Regional Analgesia (Ventilated/sedated patients or Moderate to severe traumatic brain injury)
- −Chronic pain (opioid use \> 30mg oral morphine equivalent per day)
- −Substance use disorder
- −CrCl \< 50
- −Significant distracting injuries (unreduced long bone fractures, unstable pelvic or spine fractures and patients requiring trauma laparotomy- also preclude positioning for block placement (lateral decubitus or sitting up))
- −Contraindications to CN (cryoglobulinemia, paroxysmal cold hemoglobinuria, multiple myeloma and cold urticarial).
- −Unable to return to Trauma Recovery Clinic (in-person or virtual) at 3 months
In plain language
Assembled directly from this trial’s registry record. Every sentence traces to a field below — nothing here is generated or interpreted.
What this study is
This study is testing a treatment for a condition.
This study is not organised into the usual phase numbers — that is common for device, behavioural, and diagnostic research.
From the trial registry
Built from these fields:
- designModule.designInfo.primaryPurpose
- designModule.phases
Who receives what
There are 2 groups in this study.
Group A receives Cryoneurolysis.
Registry label: A: Cryoneurolysis Group
Group B, the shamSham procedureA procedure made to feel like the real one, without the active step.Read more → group, receives Sham Cryoneurolysis.
Registry label: B: Standard Care Group
From the trial registry
Built from these fields:
- armsInterventionsModule.armGroups[].label
- armsInterventionsModule.armGroups[].type
- armsInterventionsModule.armGroups[].interventionNames
How the study is run
Which group you would be placed in is decided by chance, like a coin flip — not by you and not by your doctor.
You, the study team, and the people analysing the results would all be kept unaware of which group you are in until the study ends.
From the trial registry
Built from these fields:
- designModule.designInfo.allocation
- designModule.designInfo.maskingInfo.masking
Is there a placebo?
One group receives a sham procedureSham procedureA procedure made to feel like the real one, without the active step.Read more → — one made to feel like the real thing but without the active step.
From the trial registry
Built from these fields:
- armsInterventionsModule.armGroups[].type
- armsInterventionsModule.armGroups[].interventionNames
Who the study is looking for
The study lists an age range of 18 years to 100 years.
The study is open to people of any sex.
The study does not accept healthy volunteersHealthy volunteerSomeone without the condition being studied who takes part anyway.Read more →.
These are the criteria the study lists. Only the trial siteTrial siteA hospital or clinic where a study is actually run.Read more → can decide whether someone can take part.
From the trial registry
Built from these fields:
- eligibilityModule.minimumAge
- eligibilityModule.maximumAge
- eligibilityModule.sex
- eligibilityModule.healthyVolunteers
How big and how long
The study aims to enrol about 24 people.
The study is currently expected to finish around December 2025.
The main measurement is taken over: Entire pilot study (approximately 8 months).
From the trial registry
Built from these fields:
- designModule.enrollmentInfo.count
- statusModule.completionDateStruct.date
- outcomesModule.primaryOutcomes[].timeFrame
What the study measures
Number of participants randomizedRandomisedWhich group you go into is decided by chance, not by you or your doctor.Read more → over an 8 month period — measured over Entire pilot study (approximately 8 months).
Number of participants able to adhere to the protocolProtocolThe detailed plan a study must follow.Read more → — measured over Entire pilot study (approximately 8 months + 3 month follow-upFollow-upContinued check-ins after the treatment part is finished.Read more →).
Number of participants able to adhere to the follow-up — measured over 3 month follow-up.
Rate of Adverse eventsAdverse eventAny medical problem that happens during a study, whether or not the treatment caused it.Read more → — measured over 3 month follow-up.
From the trial registry
Built from these fields:
- outcomesModule.primaryOutcomes[].measure
- outcomesModule.primaryOutcomes[].timeFrame
Source: NCT05865327 on ClinicalTrials.gov. The full registry text is further down this page — this summary never replaces it.
Not medical advice. What do these terms mean?
What is being tested — in plain terms
About CryoneurolysisProcedure
Cryoneurolysis will be performed on the intercostal nerve associated with each fractured rib using a handheld cryoneurolysis machine (Iovera). Cryoneurolysis will consist of two 103 second cycles (includes cooling, ice ball formation and warming time) per rib fracture level. Ultrasound guidance will be used to identify appropriate rib fracture levels and to target the device tip in real time. All participants will also receive standard multimodal analgesia and ESP catheter infusion.
From the trial registry — its own words, unedited.
What a procedure is here: A surgery, technique or clinical procedure being studied.
Read the full explanation → · in clinical review
About Sham CryoneurolysisProcedure
Participants in the control group will receive sham CN (i.e., application of device without skin puncture or activation of unit) to maintain participant blinding. All participants will also receive standard multimodal analgesia and ESP catheter infusion.
From the trial registry — its own words, unedited.
What a procedure is here: A surgery, technique or clinical procedure being studied.
Read the full explanation → · in clinical review
Common questions
Answered from this trial’s registry record. Where the record doesn’t say, these answers say so rather than filling the gap.
Am I eligible for this trial?
Only the trial siteTrial siteA hospital or clinic where a study is actually run.Read more → can decide whether someone can take part. Concord cannot make that determination, and neither can any tool that has not examined you.
What the study lists: an age range of 18 years to 100 years.
The full inclusionInclusion criteriaThe things you must have or be for a study to consider you.Read more → and exclusion criteriaExclusion criteriaThe things that would prevent someone from taking part.Read more → are published on this page, exactly as the study team wrote them.
The useful next step is to bring this trial to your doctor. Answering a few questions first gives them something concrete to review.
From the trial registry
- eligibilityModule.minimumAge
- eligibilityModule.maximumAge
- eligibilityModule.eligibilityCriteria
Is there a placebo?
This study includes a shamSham procedureA procedure made to feel like the real one, without the active step.Read more → comparison — a procedure made to feel like the real one, without the active step.
From the trial registry
- armsInterventionsModule.armGroups[].type
Would I know which treatment I am getting?
You, the study team, and the people analysing the results would all be kept unaware of which group you are in until the study ends.
Which group you would be placed in is decided by chance, like a coin flip — not by you and not by your doctor.
From the trial registry
- designModule.designInfo.maskingInfo.masking
- designModule.designInfo.allocation
Who can join?
The study lists an age range of 18 years to 100 years.
It is open to people of any sex.
It does not accept healthy volunteersHealthy volunteerSomeone without the condition being studied who takes part anyway.Read more →.
Only the trial siteTrial siteA hospital or clinic where a study is actually run.Read more → can confirm whether a particular person can take part.
From the trial registry
- eligibilityModule.minimumAge
- eligibilityModule.maximumAge
- eligibilityModule.sex
- eligibilityModule.healthyVolunteers
How long would this take?
The study's main measurement is taken over: Entire pilot study (approximately 8 months).
The study as a whole is currently expected to finish around 2025-12.
How long any one person takes part can differ from the study length. The study team can tell you what the schedule looks like in practice.
From the trial registry
- outcomesModule.primaryOutcomes[].timeFrame
- statusModule.completionDateStruct.date
How many people are taking part?
The study aims to enrol about 24 people.
From the trial registry
- designModule.enrollmentInfo.count
Where is this happening?
This study lists one location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Sites can open and close during a study, so confirm with the team before travelling.
From the trial registry
- trial_locations
About This Trial
Traumatic rib fractures (i.e., broken ribs caused by a physical injury) are common and very painful. They also often lead to serious complications, more time spent in hospital, and can even lead to death. Even after rib fractures have healed, they can lead to long-term pain and a lower quality of life. A technology called cryoneurolysis, which acts to freeze nerves causing pain using a small tool which can turn very cold, is a promising new way to manage rib fracture pain. This study is a test with a small number of people to see if it is feasible to use this technology for patients with rib fractures. If this is successful, we will recruit more people for a larger study to see if cryoneurolysis, along with standard pain control techniques, is better at stopping pain, compared to just the normal techniques alone. Participants in our study will be asked to rate their pain, and record pain medications that they take for 3 months after their pain procedure.
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See if this trial could fit youThis page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Clinical trial eligibility can only be determined by the trial site after proper screening. Trial information is sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov and may not reflect the most current status. Always consult your healthcare provider before making decisions about clinical trial participation.