Active clinical trials for "Wounds and Injuries"

A number of studies identifies abdominal hernia as the most frequent postoperative complication following laparotomy with percentages of 9-20% - depending on duration of follow-up. It is based on a multifactorial basis, including factors concerning individual, patient-specific factors, factors related to the operational technique as well as particular surgical factors. Wound complications have been reported by 7-12%, burst abdomen rate (dehiscence) < 5 days being 2-4%, wound infection rate (+/- wound dehiscence) ≥ 5 days being 6-10%. In emergency procedures (e.g. ileus, perforation of hollow organ) a wound complication rate of up to 50 % has to be expected. According to new, first findings from recent studies the rates of wound healing complication and burst abdomen can be reduced significantly. Depending on the study, to almost 50%. The principle is based on the reduction of the stitch length and type of the inserted suture. The stitches are closer and with less distance to the edge of fascia. Due to the much thinner suture it still comes here to a quantitative reduction of the inserted suture. The data collected using the MonoMax® suture in the short stitch technique will be compared to the results of the ISSAAC trial, in which the MonoMax® suture was used in the long stitch suture technique. The generated data are thus subject of retrospective comparison with a historical control group (ISSAAC study).

The purpose of this study is to assess life satisfaction and long-term outcomes (i.e., medical and psychosocial) of adults who sustained spinal cord injuries (SCI) as children or adolescents.

The study investigates whether the use of eye movement recordings can provide a reliable diagnostic of previously undiagnosed mild traumatic brain injury (blast and impact) in Operations Enduring Freedom or Iraqi Freedom (OIF/OEF) veterans.

Background: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a significant injury in the Armed Forces, but it is also common in the general population. This condition poses significant challenges for both diagnosis and therapy. However, the biological and neurological reasons for TBI remain poorly understood and are in need of more in-depth study. The National Institutes of Health is collaborating with several military medical centers and research units in a multi-year study of TBI in civilian and military patients. In anticipation of these research projects, the Clinical Center s Rehabilitation Medicine Department needs to become familiar with the instruments they will likely need to evaluate this group of subjects. Objectives: To evaluate potential test instruments in patients with TBI. To evaluate patient tolerance of an extensive battery of assessments and the time required to complete the assessments. To improve staff competencies on new or novel assessments of the TBI patient population Eligibility: Individuals 18 years of age and older who have been diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury in the past 5 years. Healthy volunteers 18 years of age and older who have had no instances of significant head trauma. Design: This study requires approximately 3 days of outpatient or inpatient evaluation. Subjects will undergo cognitive and neuropsychological tests, physical assessments, speech and language evaluation, and balance testing. Tests will be given orally, in writing, and on computers. The testing will be done in blocks of 2 to 3 hours, with rest periods as needed. Subjects may undergo any or all of the following assessments and screening tools, as determined by the researchers: Cognitive, quality of life, and functional assessments Speech, language, and swallowing assessments Physical functional performance and environment assessments (including balance testing) Subjects will remain under the care of their own health care providers while participating in this study.

Hypothesis: Plastic wound retractors reduce passage of bacteria from the abdomen to the surgical incision site in abdominal surgery Currently, plastic wound retractors are used in abdominal surgery to facilitate access to the abdominal cavity. This study aims to establish whether they also prevent bacteria crossing from the abdominal cavity to the surgical incision site. Patients undergoing abdominal surgery in which a plastic wound retractor (Alexis®)is used are eligible for inclusion in the study. Swabs are taken from the inside and the outside of the plastic wound retractor prior to removing the retractor from the abdomen. The bacterial flora from swabs taken inside and outside the plastic wound protector are then compared to see if there is any difference between inside and outside the retractor. Bacteria are classified as 'enteric'(i.e. from the gastrointestinal tract) or 'skin' bacteria, depending on their usual location. The study aims to establish whether a plastic wound retractor (Alexis®) reduces translocation of enteric bacteria to the surgical incision site.

The purpose of the study is to externally validate the acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome (ALI/ARDS) prediction model (Lung Injury Prediction Score - LIPS) in a multicenter sample of patients at risk presented to the acute care hospitals: United States Critical Illness and Injury Trials Group (USCIITG).

This study will use MRI imaging, cognitive testing and outcome questionnaires to determine how the brain recovers and reorganizes after an injury.

The objective of this prospective study is to evaluate the reliability of plain x-rays vs.cranial computed tomography as a screening method for skull fractures and its prognostic value for intracranial bleeding (ICB).

To study the fibrinogen metabolic changes in relation to coagulation disorder in patients with severe burns and trauma injuries. As a result of the burn or trauma injury breakdown of fibrinogen is accelerated.

The incidence of pain in the post traumatic population is an area that has little to no investigation. This study seeks to determine the incidence and experience of pain in this vulnerable population at different time points - while in hospital, 4 weeks post injury, 3 months post injury.