Clinical trial · Interventional
Thoracotomy Closure Technique and Postoperative Pain Study: A Randomized Controlled Trial
NCT02063438CI-TRIAL-00047324completedN/AClinicalTrials.gov clinicaltrialsProvenance
- Source
- ClinicalTrials.gov
- Retrieved
- Sep 8, 2026
- Layer
- normalized (units and labels harmonized; values unchanged)
- Run
- ING-CLINICALTRIALS-20260908-000001
Summary
Brief summary (as posted)
The purpose of this study is to examine pain associated with thoracotomy (incision made during surgery to obtain access to your thoracic cavity) and how the closure technique may influence postoperative pain. Two types of routinely selected thoracotomy closure techniques will be examined; pericostal and intracostal sutures. The investigators hypothesize that intracostal sutures will result in less postoperative and chronic pain as a result of less compression of the intercostal nerve.
Conditions
Conditions (2)
Free-text conditions as registered, with the CancerIndex entity they were reconciled to and the match type.
| Condition (as posted) | Mapped entity | Match | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hernia | — | UNRESOLVED | — |
| Lung Cancer | Malignant Lung Neoplasm | CURATED_EXACT | 0.92 |
Interventions
Interventions (2)
| Intervention | Type | Mapped drug | Match |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intracostal suture technique | Procedure | — | UNRESOLVED |
| Pericostal suture technique | Procedure | — | UNRESOLVED |
Design
Arms and outcomes
Arms (2)
- type
- ACTIVE_COMPARATOR
- label
- Pericostal Suture Technique
- description
- A #2 Vicryl suture is placed along the superior aspect of the rib above the specific thoracic interspace. This suture is then passed below the inferior rib along the superior aspect of the next rib below. These sutures are then tied to approximate the ribs leaving enough room for the tip of a finger.
- interventionNames
- Procedure: Pericostal suture technique
- type
- ACTIVE_COMPARATOR
- label
- Intracostal Suture Technique
- description
- A handheld drill is used to drill holes in the rib below the specific thoracic interspace. A #2 Vicryl suture is passed through each of the holes and then passed along the superior aspect of the rib above the specific thoracic interspace. These sutures are then tied to approximate the ribs leaving enough room for the tip of a finger.
- interventionNames
- Procedure: Intracostal suture technique
Primary outcomes (2)
Eligibility
Eligibility (as posted)
- Sex
- All
- Minimum age
- 18 Years
- Maximum age
- 99 Years
Show eligibility criteria text
Inclusion Criteria: * Patients undergoing an elective procedure that will include a thoracotomy. * All patients will undergo epidural catheter placement. Exclusion Criteria: * Previous thoracotomy on the operative side. * Previous history of chronic chest pain. * Previous history of thoracic trauma on the operative side. * Less than 18 years of age * Inability to provide informed consent or to complete testing or data collection * Need for a chest wall resection * Patients requiring other incisions in addition to a thoracotomy (i.e., Laparotomy, sternotomy
References
Publications (8)
- BACKGROUNDAllama AM. Intercostal muscle flap for decreasing pain after thoracotomy: a prospective randomized trial. Ann Thorac Surg. 2010 Jan;89(1):195-9. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2009.07.094. PMID 20103234
- BACKGROUNDSakakura N, Usami N, Taniguchi T, Kawaguchi K, Okagawa T, Yokoyama M, Yokoi K. Assessment of long-term postoperative pain in open thoracotomy patients: pain reduction by the edge closure technique. Ann Thorac Surg. 2010 Apr;89(4):1064-70. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2010.01.015. PMID 20338308
- RESULTCerfolio RJ, Price TN, Bryant AS, Sale Bass C, Bartolucci AA. Intracostal sutures decrease the pain of thoracotomy. Ann Thorac Surg. 2003 Aug;76(2):407-11; discussion 411-2. doi: 10.1016/s0003-4975(03)00447-8. PMID 12902074
- RESULTCerfolio RJ, Bryant AS, Maniscalco LM. A nondivided intercostal muscle flap further reduces pain of thoracotomy: a prospective randomized trial. Ann Thorac Surg. 2008 Jun;85(6):1901-6; discussion 1906-7. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2008.01.041. PMID 18498792
- RESULTCerfolio RJ, Bryant AS, Patel B, Bartolucci AA. Intercostal muscle flap reduces the pain of thoracotomy: a prospective randomized trial. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2005 Oct;130(4):987-93. doi: 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2005.05.052. PMID 16214509
- RESULTBayram AS, Ozcan M, Kaya FN, Gebitekin C. Rib approximation without intercostal nerve compression reduces post-thoracotomy pain: a prospective randomized study. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2011 Apr;39(4):570-4. doi: 10.1016/j.ejcts.2010.08.003. Epub 2010 Sep 15. PMID 20833556
- RESULTWu N, Yan S, Wang X, Lv C, Wang J, Zheng Q, Feng Y, Yang Y. A prospective, single-blind randomised study on the effect of intercostal nerve protection on early post-thoracotomy pain relief. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2010 Apr;37(4):840-5. doi: 10.1016/j.ejcts.2009.11.004. Epub 2009 Dec 1.