Active clinical trials for "Wounds and Injuries"

The current standard for negative pressure wound therapy is the Vacuum Assisted Closure Device (VAC), a commercial system that utilizes a computerized suction pump to apply negative pressure to an open-cell poly-urethane foam dressing sealed over a wound. The VAC system is effective but has some drawbacks: The system is expensive. There us conflicting data about the effectiveness of VAC therapy for infected wounds. VAC therapy is difficult to use (and frequently fails) in wounds with excess fluid drainage, and in wounds near body orifices. Over the past 4 years, we have accumulated additional experience with negative pressure wound therapy using wall suction applied to sealed gauze dressings with about 30 patients. We call this method G-SUC and have used it when we have been unable to maintain a dressing seal with the VAC system (due to excess drainage or wound location), for management if infected wounds. We have found this method to be effective without any specific negative side effects. Our specific aims are: Compare the effectiveness of G-SUC and standard VAC therapy. Outcomes measured for each method will include the proportional change in wound size over 1 - 2 weeks. Compare the effectiveness of G-SUC and VAC system in controlling wound infections as measured by the number of patients who are able to clear infection by 4 days. Compare the failure of each method of therapy by documenting the number of dressing that cannot be maintained because of fluid or suction. Measure and compare the cost of wound treatment with the two methods including direct cost and time spent at the bed side performing the dressing change. Our hypotheses are: G-SUC and VAC are equivalent for the treatment of uncomplicated wounds in the acute care, in-patient setting. G-SUC is more effective than VAC for management of infected wounds. G-SUC is more versatile than VAC, and functional G-SUC dressings can be maintained in situations where functional VAC dressings cannot. Negative pressure therapy with G-SUC is less costly than VAC.

Imprimis Pharmaceuticals is investigating a proprietary, topical cream formulation consisting of 10% ketoprofen (containing 100 mg of ketoprofen in 1gram of cream) for the local treatment of acute musculoskeletal pain.

To address the effect of tadalafil (Cialis) on the cardiovascular system of men with complete spinal cord injury at T-6 and above. The hypothesis is that tadalafil will cause significant hypotension in people with tetraplegia.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate if pregabalin relieves nerve pain associated with spinal cord injury compared to placebo (pill that contains no active medicine). This study will also evaluate the safety of pregabalin in this patient population.

The purpose of this study is to determine whether a booster session is needed after a brief intervention upon initial admission to the emergency room (ER) in order to reduce the rate of alcohol-related injury recidivism.

The current study is a phase I open-label clinical trial to examine plasma levels after oral lithium treatments in 20 subjects with chronic spinal cord injury. The subjects will receive standard doses of oral lithium used in treatment of manic depression. The goal of the trial is to show feasibility and safety of maintaining plasma levels of 0.6 mmol/L to 1.2 mmol/L for six weeks in subjects with chronic spinal cord injury.

Specific Aim: to implement and evaluate a research protocol for demonstrating the efficacy of Acupuncture Therapy to improve neurological recovery after incomplete SCI compared to a control protocol. Hypothesis: acupuncture treatment results in greater neurological recovery than a control treatment after an incomplete SCI. Before conducting a larger, more definitive study, this exploratory and developmental work is focused on assessing whether blinding is possible, reproducibility of the outcome measure, determine enrollment rates and effect sizes and identify clinical resources needed to conduct a larger study.

The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of early administration of recombinant human erythropoietin on long-term neurological outcome after severe traumatic brain injury.

The purpose of this study is to determine whether fish oil (containing omega-3 fatty acids) given enterally is safe and effective in reducing lung and systemic inflammation seen in acute lung injury.

This study is to compare the treatment with two different silver-containing wound dressings: aquacel AG hydrofiber versus acticoat burn dressing.