Active clinical trials for "Wounds and Injuries"

The purpose of this study is to assess the efficacy of design improvements of the Spiracur SNaP Wound Care System. This study prospectively evaluates the safety and efficacy of current and new design iterations of components of the FDA-cleared Spiracur SNaP Wound Care System in order to optimize safety, efficacy, and system performance.

Remote Ischemic Preconditioning(RIPC) and remote ischemic postconditioning(RIPoC) seems to have a protective effect during ischemic period. Using cardiopulmonary bypass(CPB) during open heart surgery reduces pulmonary blood flow and may cause ischemic damage to lung tissue. The investigators anticipate that RIPC and RIPoC may reduce lung injury after CPB.

The trial is a randomized, controlled trial. Adult patients undergoing orthopaedic surgical procedures would be randomized to one of two groups for surgical wound closure, skin sutures or skin staples. The primary outcome measures would be surgical site infection indicated by the use of oral or intravenous antibiotics for suspected wound infection and/or re-operation at the same site. Patients would be followed up as per their usual post-operative course for a total of three months in the trauma and spine population and six months in the total joint arthroplasty population. It is hypothesized that wounds closed with sutures and staples will have similar infection rates as defined by the use of antibiotics or reoperation.

Rationale: Apart from their cholesterol lowering effects, statins have cholesterol-independent pleiotropic actions, such as upregulation of 5'-ectonucleotidase and up-regulation of NO-synthase that may increase tolerance against ischemia-reperfusion injury (IR-injury). Several animal studies have shown reduction of IR-injury as a result of statin treatment in both the heart and the kidney. Recently the investigators have shown, using Annexin A5 targeting after voluntary ischemic exercise to assess IR-injury, a protective effect of a 7 day oral rosuvastatin treatment. A three day treatment with atorvastatin however failed to reduce annexin targeting. Assessment of the flow mediated dilation of the brachial artery as measure of endothelial (dys)function, is a validated model to research effects of possible protective strategies and perform mechanistic experiments on IR-injury in humans in vivo. The investigators hypothesize that pretreatment with statins can increase endothelial tolerance against ischemia and reperfusion injury. Objective: To study the protective effect of pretreatment (both 3 day and 7 day) with rosuvastatin and atorvastatin on flow mediated dilation after 15 minutes ischemia and 15 minutes reperfusion. Study design: placebo-controlled randomised double-blind trial Study population: Healthy volunteers, age 18-50 Intervention: Treatment with either rosuvastatin 20 mg, atorvastatin 80mg or placebo during either 3 or 7 days Main study parameters: Difference in flow mediated dilation before and after 15 minutes ischemia. Nature and extent of the burden and risks associated with participation, benefit and group relatedness: Treatment with rosuvastatin or atorvastatin is not expected to harm the volunteers. Most reported side effects of rosuvastatin and atorvastatin are gastro-intestinal complains and myalgia. The volunteers will not benefit directly from participating in this study.

Tacrolimus (FK506) is an immunosuppressive medication that promotes organ allograft survival. It has also been shown to enhance nerve regeneration and muscle reinnervation in animals but these properties have not previously been studied in patients. Moreover, currently there is no method in clinical use to speed the rate of recovery after nerve injury. The objective of this study is to explore the ability of tacrolimus to benefit the treatment of patients with peripheral nerve injury. To minimize the morbidity of tacrolimus therapy, its phase-specific effects on nerve regeneration and muscle reinnervation will be defined in the murine model to permit further limitation of the duration of therapy. The investigators hypothesize that treatment with tacrolimus after autogenous peripheral nerve reconstruction will accelerate nerve regeneration, reduce the period of denervation and improve muscle reinnervation and recovery in patients with peripheral nerve injury. There are 2 specific aims: Determine the safety and efficacy of tacrolimus following reconstructive nerve surgery in a double-blind placebo-controlled randomized pilot clinical trial of patients with severe nerve injuries of the extremities; Correlate the quality of life outcome with assessment of functional recovery after surgical reconstruction of patients with severe peripheral nerve injuries of the extremities.

The purpose of this study is to determine whether N-acetylcysteine given intravenously 1 day pre-operatively is effective in preventing inflammation in the lungs, as measured by tests on blood, breath and lung specimens, in patients undergoing surgery to remove a portion of lung.

Primary objective: to evaluate the effectiveness of a fall prevention exercise program in preventing falls resulting in fractures and other physical traumas. Secondary objectives: to better understand the mechanisms by which physical exercise prevents falls and ensuing injuries (improvement in physical functional abilities, global physical activity level, general physical and psychological wellbeing and self-confidence). to determine the individual factors associated with long-term adherence to the exercise program.

The purpose of this study is to determine the possible effects of an anesthetic agent called Ketamine on the injured brain in children. The researchers think that it will effect the outcomes of children with these injuries.

Does caffeine reduce rosuvastatin induced protection against ischemia reperfusion injury?

To establish the effects of genotropin replacement in patients with severe growth hormone deficiency after traumatic brain injury on cognitive function.