Intramedullary Nailing Versus External Fixation in Open Tibia Fractures in Tanzania

NCT ID: NCT03861624

Last Updated: 2022-07-28

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

240 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2015-12-17

Study Completion Date

2017-03-25

Brief Summary

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The investigators propose to undertake a randomized, controlled trial which will generate Level 1 evidence concerning optimal fixation methods for the treatment of severe open tibia fractures in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The investigators hope to determine the optimal management of severe open tibial fractures in Sub-Saharan Africa in order to reduce long-term disability, limit the economic impact of injury, and avoid resource costs of reoperation. The investigators plan to compare the all-cause reoperation rate for AO/Orthopaedic Trauma Association (OTA) Type 42 open tibial shaft fractures treated with initial intramedullary nailing versus external fixation at Muhimbili Orthopaedic Institute in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, to compare rates of secondary clinical endpoints including postoperative superficial and deep infection, clinical union, radiographic union, malunion, and health-related quality of life with minimum one year follow-up, and identify prognostic factors related to the patient, injury, or management protocol that impact the reoperation rate, return to work, and health-related quality of life.

Detailed Description

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The investigators conducted a prospective randomised controlled trial at a tertiary referral hospital in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania from December 17th, 2015 to March 25th, 2017. All open tibia fractures arriving at the hospital emergency room during the enrollment period were screened for inclusion in the study. Inclusion and exclusion criteria are noted later in this submission.All patients who were eligible after clinical screening were offered enrollment in the study and subsequently completed written informed consent in either English or Swahili depending on the patient's preference. The investigation was approved by ethical review boards at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) and the Tanzanian National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR).

All enrolled participants were taken to the operating room for initial irrigation and debridement using a standardized protocol aiming for debridement within 24 hours of hospital admission. Preoperative ceftriaxone was given as soon as possible after presentation to the emergency department. Following debridement, the primary surgeon determined if the wound was amenable to immediate or delayed primary closure. If amenable to primary closure, the patient was randomized by a site research coordinator to one of two treatments (Intramedullary nailing (IMN) or external fixation (EF))using a centralized web-based electronic randomization tool, Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap). The study computer analyst developed the REDCap randomization module with input from senior authors. The REDCap randomization module incorporated block randomization to maintain equal patient distribution between each treatment group and to ensure allocation concealment.

Data from a pilot study at the site of our investigation informed sample size calculations, which showed reoperation rates of external fixation and intramedullary nailing of 38% versus 3.8%. However, with longer follow-up and more stringent criteria for a primary event, The investigators used a more conservative effect size of 20% compared to 5%. Using a power of 80% and alpha of 0.05, The investigators calculated the study would require 88 patients in each treatment group (176 total). Accounting for 20% loss to follow up, The investigators estimated a total sample size requirement of 240 patients (120 per group).

Data monitoring was completed by the adjudication committee at 6 month intervals throughout the study duration and prior to final analysis in December, 2018.

Conditions

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Tibial Fractures Open Fracture of Tibia Trauma

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

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Intramedullary nailing

Patients receive definitive fixation of AO/OTA-42 open tibia diaphyseal fractures via Intramedullary nailing with standard SIGN nail.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Intramedullary nailing with standard SIGN nail

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Patients meeting eligibility requirements are randomized to either study arm. Patients receive definitive fixation of AO/OTA-42 open tibia diaphyseal fractures using the standard SIGN nail (SIGN Fracture Care International, Richland, WA). The number of interlocking screws is at the discretion of the treating surgeon, who also has the option to use an external fixator for damage control, and later conversion to IMN when clinically appropriate. The experimental group procedure is less common in the study setting, and thus, viewed as the experimental group.

External Fixation

Patients receive definitive fixation of AO/OTA-42 open tibia diaphyseal fractures External Fixation with uniplanar Dispofix external fixator.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

External Fixation with uniplanar Dispofix external fixator

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Patients meeting eligibility requirements are randomized to either study arm. Patients receive definitive fixation of AO/OTA-42 open tibia diaphyseal fractures using the uniplanar Dispofix external fixator with two Shanz screws placed proximally and two Schanz screws placed distally to fracture site with a single stainless steel bar.The active comparator group procedure is more common in the study setting, and thus, viewed as the comparator group.

Interventions

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Intramedullary nailing with standard SIGN nail

Patients meeting eligibility requirements are randomized to either study arm. Patients receive definitive fixation of AO/OTA-42 open tibia diaphyseal fractures using the standard SIGN nail (SIGN Fracture Care International, Richland, WA). The number of interlocking screws is at the discretion of the treating surgeon, who also has the option to use an external fixator for damage control, and later conversion to IMN when clinically appropriate. The experimental group procedure is less common in the study setting, and thus, viewed as the experimental group.

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

External Fixation with uniplanar Dispofix external fixator

Patients meeting eligibility requirements are randomized to either study arm. Patients receive definitive fixation of AO/OTA-42 open tibia diaphyseal fractures using the uniplanar Dispofix external fixator with two Shanz screws placed proximally and two Schanz screws placed distally to fracture site with a single stainless steel bar.The active comparator group procedure is more common in the study setting, and thus, viewed as the comparator group.

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

1. Skeletal maturity
2. AO/OTA 42 open tibia fractures
3. Wound primarily closeable (no flap or delay in closure due to contamination needed)
4. Palpable pedal pulses (no vascular injury sustained)
5. Presentation within 24 hours from injury

Exclusion Criteria

1. Current injury is a pathologic fracture
2. Sustained bilateral tibia fracture
3. Sustained comminuted femur fracture
4. Sustained severe Traumatic Brain Injury (GCS\<12) \*\*\*
5. Sustained severe spinal cord injury (lower extremity paresis/paralysis)
6. Sustained severe burns (\>10% total body surface area (TBSA) or \>5% TBSA with full thickness or circumferential injury)
7. Prior ipsilateral leg injury requiring surgery
8. Prior or current lower limb deformity or abnormality
9. Unable to complete follow-up visits
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Wyss Foundation, Inc

UNKNOWN

Sponsor Role collaborator

Doris Duke Charitable Foundation

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

University of California, San Francisco

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

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Saam Morshed, MD, MPH

Role: STUDY_CHAIR

University of California, San Francisco

David Shearer, MD, MPH

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University of California, San Francisco

Billy Haonga, MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Muhimbili Orthopaedic Institute

Edmund Eliezer, MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Muhimbili Orthopaedic Institute

References

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Chandran A, Hyder AA, Peek-Asa C. The global burden of unintentional injuries and an agenda for progress. Epidemiol Rev. 2010;32(1):110-20. doi: 10.1093/epirev/mxq009. Epub 2010 Jun 22.

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Mock C, Cherian MN. The global burden of musculoskeletal injuries: challenges and solutions. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2008 Oct;466(10):2306-16. doi: 10.1007/s11999-008-0416-z. Epub 2008 Aug 5.

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Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 15292432 (View on PubMed)

WHO Scientific Group on the Burden of Musculoskeletal Conditions at the Start of the New Millennium. The burden of musculoskeletal conditions at the start of the new millennium. World Health Organ Tech Rep Ser. 2003;919:i-x, 1-218, back cover.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 14679827 (View on PubMed)

Dormans JP, Fisher RC, Pill SG. Orthopaedics in the developing world: present and future concerns. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2001 Sep-Oct;9(5):289-96. doi: 10.5435/00124635-200109000-00002.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 11575908 (View on PubMed)

Museru LM, Mcharo CN. The dilemma of fracture treatment in developing countries. Int Orthop. 2002;26(6):324-7. doi: 10.1007/s00264-002-0408-7. Epub 2002 Oct 17. No abstract available.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 12466862 (View on PubMed)

Zirkle LG Jr. Injuries in developing countries--how can we help? The role of orthopaedic surgeons. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2008 Oct;466(10):2443-50. doi: 10.1007/s11999-008-0387-0. Epub 2008 Aug 7.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 18685912 (View on PubMed)

Shah RK, Moehring HD, Singh RP, Dhakal A. Surgical Implant Generation Network (SIGN) intramedullary nailing of open fractures of the tibia. Int Orthop. 2004 Jun;28(3):163-6. doi: 10.1007/s00264-003-0535-9. Epub 2004 Jan 9.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 14714143 (View on PubMed)

Shearer D, Cunningham, B., Zirkle, L. Population Characteristics and Clinical Outcomes from the SIGN Online Surgical Database. Techniques in Orthopaedics. 2009;24(4):273-276.

Reference Type BACKGROUND

Ikpeme I, Ngim N, Udosen A, Onuba O, Enembe O, Bello S. External jig-aided intramedullary interlocking nailing of diaphyseal fractures: experience from a tropical developing centre. Int Orthop. 2011 Jan;35(1):107-11. doi: 10.1007/s00264-009-0949-0. Epub 2010 Feb 11.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 20148329 (View on PubMed)

Ogunlusi JD, St Rose RS, Davids T. Interlocking nailing without imaging: the challenges of locating distal slots and how to overcome them in SIGN intramedullary nailing. Int Orthop. 2010 Aug;34(6):891-5. doi: 10.1007/s00264-009-0882-2. Epub 2009 Oct 8.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 19813011 (View on PubMed)

Naeem-Ur-Razaq M, Qasim M, Khan MA, Sahibzada AS, Sultan S. Management outcome of closed femoral shaft fractures by open Surgical Implant Generation Network (SIGN) interlocking nails. J Ayub Med Coll Abbottabad. 2009 Jan-Mar;21(1):21-4.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 20364733 (View on PubMed)

Ikem IC, Ogunlusi JD, Ine HR. Achieving interlocking nails without using an image intensifier. Int Orthop. 2007 Aug;31(4):487-90. doi: 10.1007/s00264-006-0219-3. Epub 2006 Oct 13.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 17039384 (View on PubMed)

Sekimpi P, Okike K, Zirkle L, Jawa A. Femoral fracture fixation in developing countries: an evaluation of the Surgical Implant Generation Network (SIGN) intramedullary nail. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2011 Oct 5;93(19):1811-8. doi: 10.2106/JBJS.J.01322.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 22005867 (View on PubMed)

Kooistra BW, Dijkman BG, Busse JW, Sprague S, Schemitsch EH, Bhandari M. The radiographic union scale in tibial fractures: reliability and validity. J Orthop Trauma. 2010 Mar;24 Suppl 1:S81-6. doi: 10.1097/BOT.0b013e3181ca3fd1.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 20182243 (View on PubMed)

Provided Documents

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Document Type: Study Protocol and Informed Consent Form

View Document

Other Identifiers

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14-14792

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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