Clinical Research Directory

Antibiotic Prophylaxis in Pediatric Open Fractures

This research will involve a prospective study on infection rates after grade 1 or 2 open fractures in the skeletally immature pediatric population. There will be 3 arms: one dose intravenous cefazolin, 24 hours intravenous cefazolin, and 24 hours intravenous cefazolin plus 5 days of oral cephalexin.

Tobramycin Injection to Prevent Infection in Open Fractures

The goal of open extremity fracture (OEF) treatment is to promote fracture healing and restore function while preventing the development of infection. This is achieved through systematic and timely wound debridement and irrigation, fracture stabilization, tetanus prophylaxis, systemic and local antimicrobial therapy, and judicious timing of wound closure based on cleanliness. Early prophylactic systemic antibiotics lower infection rates in open fractures but have limitations of achieving adequate concentration at the hypoperfused wound area. OEF wounds are frequently poor in vasculature secondary to the soft tissue injury, hence adequate concentration of antibiotic cannot permeate to the tissue at risk. If systemic antibiotic concentrations are increased to achieve minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for pathogens at the wound, there is heightened concern for systemic drug toxicity. In sharp contrast, locally administered antibiotics achieve high drug concentration directly within the wound cavity with minimal systemic side effects. Local antibiotic therapy has shown to reduce rates of open fracture wound infection. With the serious implications of postoperative infections in OEF, it is imperative that all measures including further use of prophylactic local antibiotics be considered to prevent fracture-related infection (FRI). The overarching hypothesis for this project is that a novel synergistic combination of local aqueous tobramycin plus perioperative weight-based IV cephalosporin antibiotic prophylaxis will reduce the rate of FRI one year after OEF surgery. This in turn will improve OEF patient outcomes, decreasing morbidity and return to the operating room (OR) without any adverse effect on fracture healing. Regardless of the treatment group, bacterial speciation will be determined for patients that do develop FRI to help guide future treatment. The goal is to improve the clinical outcome and recovery of the population that sustains an OEF by decreasing the rate of FRI and fracture nonunions while concurrently educating on bacterial speciation and resistance.

The Treatment of Type I Open Fractures in Pediatrics

Open fractures are frequently encountered in orthopaedics. Treatment usually calls for a formal, operative procedure in which the bone is exposed, foreign tissue is debrided and the wound is irrigated. While this is the current standard of care, not all open fractures are equal. In retrospective studies, centers are reporting less aggressive operative management for open fractures may result in equal results without the time and expense of the operative theater. The investigators propose a prospective, randomized trial of children with type I open fractures to evaluate whether formal operative treatment is necessary. The investigators' hypothesis is that minor open fractures can be safely treated in the emergency room with irrigation, closed reduction and home antibiotics without an increased risk of infection or other complications. Children who meet the study criteria will be randomized into two treatment arms - formal operative management (OR) and emergency department (ED) management. Outcomes from each group will be evaluated and compared, including rate of infection, number of return visits to the operating room, time to union, and other complications.

Safety, Efficacy, & Use of ViviGen Cellular Bone Matrix Allograft in Orthopaedic Fracture Care

Prospective registry and retrospective data collection study to assess the efficacy and safety of Vivigen Cellular Bone Matrix (Vivigen) in orthopaedic trauma patients who require bone grafting in the acute, delayed, non-union fracture as well as use in fusion procedure settings.

Powdered Intrawound Vancomycin in Open Fractures Trial

The purpose of this randomized control trial is to compare the rate of post-operative infection in patients with open fractures in upper or lower extremity long bones randomized to receive intra-operative intrawound topical vancomycin powder on their open fractures in addition to the current best practice of intravenous antibiotics with irrigation and debridement compared to intravenous antibiotics with irrigation and debridement alone during definitive operative fixation of the fracture.