Battle of the bandages: antibiotic beads take on wound vacs for broken legs

NCT ID NCT05615844

Recruiting now Disease control Sponsor: University of Maryland, Baltimore Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This Phase 3 trial tests whether antibiotic cement beads or negative pressure wound therapy (a wound vac) works better for severe open tibia fractures. 312 adults with these injuries will be randomly assigned to one of the two treatments. Researchers will compare death, amputation, unplanned surgeries, and bone healing over 6 months.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: Antibiotic cement beads (vancomycin and tobramycin mixed with PMMA cement)
What this could lead to: If it works, this could show that antibiotic beads are better than standard wound vacs at preventing infections and helping bones heal after severe open leg fractures.
What could go wrong: This is a Phase 3 trial, but results may not apply to all fracture types or hospitals. Both treatments are already used, so the difference may be small. Risks include infection, amputation, or need for more surgery.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

Get updates

Get notified about this study

Our safety recommendation!

By submitting, you agree to our Terms of use

Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

tibia fracture

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

OPEN TÍBIA FRACTURE

Contacts and locations

Locations

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
RECRUITING

Boston, Massachusetts, 02215, United States
Bon Secours Mercy Health
RECRUITING

Cincinnati, Ohio, 45237, United States
Bryan Medical Center
RECRUITING

Lincoln, Nebraska, 68506, United States
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
RECRUITING

Los Angeles, California, 90048, United States
Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center
RECRUITING

Lebanon, New Hampshire, 03766, United States
Dignity Health Chandler Regional Medical Center
RECRUITING

Chandler, Arizona, 85224, United States
Hamilton Health Sciences
RECRUITING

Hamilton, Ontario, L8L 2X2, Canada
Indiana University
RECRUITING

Indianapolis, Indiana, 46202, United States
Inova Fairfax
RECRUITING

Falls Church, Virginia, 22042, United States
London Health Sciences Centre
RECRUITING

London, Ontario, N6C 2R6, Canada
Ortegon Health & Science University
RECRUITING

Portland, Oregon, 97239, United States
Prisma Health
RECRUITING

Greenville, South Carolina, 29605, United States
Prisma Health - Midlands
RECRUITING

Columbia, South Carolina, 29203, United States
Royal Columbian Hospital
RECRUITING

New Westminster, British Columbia, V3L 3W7, Canada
Sanford Health
RECRUITING

Sioux Falls, South Dakota, 57104, United States
Sanford Medical Center
RECRUITING

Fargo, North Dakota, 58103, United States
Slocum Center
RECRUITING

Eugene, Oregon, 97401, United States
St. Luke's University Health Network
RECRUITING

Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, 18015, United States
The Ottawa Hospital
RECRUITING

Ottawa, Ontario, K1Y 4E9, Canada
University Medical Center of Southern Nevada
WITHDRAWN

Las Vegas, Nevada, 89102, United States
University of Arizona
RECRUITING

Tucson, Arizona, 85721, United States
University of British Columbia
RECRUITING

Vancouver, British Columbia, V5Z 1M9, Canada
University of California, Davis
RECRUITING

Davis, California, 95616, United States
University of California, Irvine
RECRUITING

Orange, California, 92868, United States
University of Cincinnati
RECRUITING

Cincinnati, Ohio, 45219, United States
University of Florida
RECRUITING

Gainesville, Florida, 32611, United States
University of Maryland Capital Region Health
RECRUITING

Largo, Maryland, 20774, United States
University of Maryland, R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center
RECRUITING

Baltimore, Maryland, 21201, United States
University of Miami
RECRUITING

Miami, Florida, 33146, United States
University of Mississippi
RECRUITING

University, Mississippi, 38677, United States
University of Southern California
RECRUITING

Los Angeles, California, 90033, United States
University of Utah
RECRUITING

Salt Lake City, Utah, 84112, United States
University of Wisconsin
WITHDRAWN

Madison, Wisconsin, 53792, United States
Yale University
RECRUITING

New Haven, Connecticut, 06520, United States

More trials for these conditions

Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.

Could a bone cement antibiotic stop infections after open leg fractures?