Antibiotic Bead Pouch vs Negative Pressure Therapy for Open Fractures
Antibiotic Cement Bead Pouch Versus Negative Pressure Wound Therapy
Recruiting
Phase 3Interventional Study
Open tíbia Fracture
No Placebo Group
Every participant receives an active treatment — no one gets a placebo.
Pivotal Trial
This treatment is in the last trial phase before FDA approval.
Prior Safety Data
This treatment has already been tested in at least one earlier human trial.
Ready to participate?
Review the details below, then apply to join this clinical trial.
At a Glance
Age
18 and older
Sex
Any
Trial phase
Phase 3
Study type
Interventional
Purpose
Treatment
Participants needed
312 (estimated)
Sponsor
University of Maryland, Baltimore · Other
Who this trial is looking for
This trial is looking for adults with a severe open fracture of the tibia that needs multiple surgical treatments. Participants will receive either an antibiotic bead pouch or a special vacuum therapy to help manage their wounds.
Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?
You may be able to join if
I am 18 years of age or older.
I have a severe open tibia fracture needing multiple surgeries.
I have planned surgery for fixing my fracture.
I have had surgical cleaning of my injury within 72 hours.
All my surgeries will be done by a qualified surgeon.
I have given my informed consent.
You may not be able to join if
My doctor thinks my limb cannot be saved.
I am allergic to vancomycin or tobramycin.
I have a medical reason that prevents me from using vacuum therapy.
I have had surgery for my fracture at a different hospital.
I have an infection at the fracture site.
I am currently in prison.
I am pregnant or planning to become pregnant soon.
I cannot understand the information to give my consent.
Summarized in plain language from this trial's official eligibility criteria.
The full criteria are further down this page — only the research team can
confirm whether you qualify.
Think this trial could be right for you?
Answer three quick questions written from this study's own rules to see if you may qualify. No account needed to find out.
The Beads vs Vac trial is a multi-centre randomized controlled trial of 312 participants with a severe open tibia fracture requiring multiple irrigation and debridement surgeries. Eligible participants will be randomized to receive either an antibiotic bead pouch or negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) for their temporary open fracture wound management. Outcomes will be assessed at 6 weeks, 3 mo…
The Beads vs Vac trial is a multi-centre randomized controlled trial of 312 participants with a severe open tibia fracture requiring multiple irrigation and debridement surgeries. Eligible participants will be randomized to receive either an antibiotic bead pouch or negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) for their temporary open fracture wound management. Outcomes will be assessed at 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months post-surgery. The primary outcome will be a composite outcome to evaluate clinical status six months after randomization. Components of the composite outcome will be hierarchically assessed in the following order: 1) all-cause mortality, 2) injury-related amputation of the lower extremity, 3) unplanned reoperation to manage wound complications, infection, or delayed fracture healing, and 4) clinical fracture healing as assessed using the Functional IndeX for Trauma (FIX-IT) instrument. The secondary outcomes will independently assess the four components of the primary outcome. This is a Phase III trial.
Trial Locations
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Eligibility Criteria
The inclusion criteria are:
1. Patients 18 years of age or older.
2. Severe open tibia fracture requiring more than one irrigation and debridement procedure to treat the open fracture.
3. Planned internal or external fixation for definitive fracture management.
4. Formal surgical debridement within…
The inclusion criteria are:
1. Patients 18 years of age or older.
2. Severe open tibia fracture requiring more than one irrigation and debridement procedure to treat the open fracture.
3. Planned internal or external fixation for definitive fracture management.
4. Formal surgical debridement within 72 hours of their injury.
5. Will have all planned fracture care surgeries performed by a participating surgeon or delegate.
6. Informed consent obtained.
The exclusion criteria are:
1. Due to the severity of injury, the treating surgeon does not believe limb salvage \>6 months is likely to be successful based on the emergency department or initial intraoperative assessment (prior to enrolment and randomization).
2. Medical contraindication to antibiotic beads, including previously known allergies or sensitivities to vancomycin and/or tobramycin.
3. Medical or injury contraindication to NPWT. Injury contraindications could include situations in which the NPWT could not be placed over a vascular graft or exposed neurovascular structure.
4. Received previous surgical debridement or management of their fracture at a non-participating hospital or clinic (as applicable).
5. Chronic or acute infection at or near the fracture site at the time of initial fracture surgery.
6. Incarceration.
7. Women of child-bearing potential who are pregnant or intending to become pregnant within the next 6 months.
8. Currently enrolled in a study that does not permit co-enrollment.
9. Unable to obtain informed consent due to language barriers.
10. Anticipated problems, in the judgment of research personnel, with maintaining follow-up with the patient.
11. Prior enrollment in the trial.
12. Other reason to exclude the patient, as approved by the Methods Center.
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