Lidocaine Infusions for Rib Fractures

Patients with traumatic rib fractures not receiving regional anesthesia through a epidural or nerve block catheter will be recruited for the study. Once enrolled, they will be randomized to receive either intravenous lidocaine or intravenous saline for control of pain related to their rib fractures. In addition, they will receive other pain medications, such as acetaminophen, gabapentin, and opioid pain medications. Our primary outcome is a decrease in their opioid medication requirements.