Thoracotomy Closure Technique and Postoperative Pain Study: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Status

Completed

Phases

Study type

Interventional

Source

ClinicalTrials.gov

Registry ID

NCT02063438

Enrollment

255

Registered

2014-02-14

Start date

2014-02-28

Completion date

2020-07-15

Last updated

2020-09-25

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Hernia, Lung Cancer

Keywords

Thoracotomy, Pain, Intracostal Suture, Pericostal Suture

Brief summary

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.

Interventions

PROCEDUREPericostal suture technique

PROCEDUREIntracostal suture technique

Study design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Intervention model

SINGLE_GROUP

Primary purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

DOUBLE (Subject, Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

ALL

Age

18 Years to 99 Years

Healthy volunteers

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

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
Intensity and incidence of chronic post-thoracotomy pain	6 months follwong surgery
Severity of postoperative pain in the perioperative period.	2 weeks following surgery

Secondary

Measure	Time frame
Complication rates between subjects undergoing pericostal versus intracostal thoracotomy closure technique	6 months following surgery
Length of hospital stay and associated hospital costs between subjects undergoing pericostal versus intracostal thoracotomy closure technique	6 months following surgery

Countries

United States

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026