Actively Recruiting
Blue Light as an Anti-inflammatory and Analgesic Strategy in Thoracic Trauma
Led by Rebecca E Kotcher, MD · Updated on 2026-03-04
75
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
92 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
Sponsors
R
Rebecca E Kotcher, MD
Lead Sponsor
N
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Collaborating Sponsor
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
The main goal of this clinical trial is to learn if light therapy improves pain and inflammation in adults with painful rib fractures. The main question it aims to answer is: \- Does bright blue light therapy in addition to standard pain treatments improve pain with breathing in adults with painful rib fractures? Researchers will compare participants who receive bright blue light therapy to participants who receive white light therapy and participants who receive only usual lighting conditions to look for differences in their pain control. In addition to their assigned light treatment, all participants will receive standard pain control treatments. Participants will be assigned randomly to one of three groups: one-third will be assigned to bright blue light therapy, one-third will be assigned to bright white light therapy, and one-third will be assigned to usual light only. They will receive their assigned light treatment for 4 hours during the morning/early afternoon for up to 3 days while they are in the hospital. On each day they receive the light treatment and on the day after their final light treatment: * They will be asked twice to rate their pain at rest and with taking a deep breath. * They will be tested to confirm that they are not experiencing delirium, or confusion related to being in the hospital. * Blood samples will be collected to look for changes in inflammation and the circadian clock, the body's natural 24-hour cycle.
CONDITIONS
Official Title
Blue Light as an Anti-inflammatory and Analgesic Strategy in Thoracic Trauma
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Age greater than or equal to 18 years
- Admitted to a single large academic level I trauma center within the first 48 hours of traumatic injury
- At least 1 acute rib fracture
- Pain related to rib fracture(s) with pain score of 4 or higher at rest or with incentive spirometer use, or inspiratory volume less than 1000 cc
- Anticipated hospital stay of 48 hours or more
- Alert and able to provide informed consent
You will not qualify if you...
- Receiving mechanical ventilation or non-invasive positive pressure ventilation for respiratory insufficiency before consent
- Delirium detected at the time of consent
- Ocular trauma that might affect light therapy
- Traumatic brain injury or history of brain injury or stroke that might affect light therapy
- Splenectomy upon admission or history of splenectomy that might affect light therapy
- Significant ocular diseases like macular degeneration, glaucoma, or cataracts that might affect light therapy
- History of cataract surgery due to possible blue light filtering lens
- History of bipolar disorder or schizophrenia that might increase risk of adverse reaction to light
- History of dementia affecting the reliability of pain and delirium measures
- Any condition preventing eye opening to receive light or report pain score
- Myopia, hyperopia, or astigmatism corrected with glasses or contacts is allowed
AI-Screening
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Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
Presbyterian Hospital, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States, 15213
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
R
Rebecca E Kotcher, MD
CONTACT
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
NONE
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Model
PARALLEL
Primary Purpose
TREATMENT
Number of Arms
3
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