Light-Activated implant could mend Cancer-Weakened bones without major surgery
NCT ID NCT02373904
First seen Jul 15, 2026 · Last updated Jul 16, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tests a device called the Photodynamic Bone Stabilization System for treating painful fractures or impending fractures in the upper arm bone (humerus) caused by cancer that has spread to the bone. The device is inserted into the bone and hardened with light to provide stability. The trial measures whether it reduces pain and improves daily function in adults with metastatic bone disease.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- a photodynamic bone stabilization system (a device that is inserted into the bone and hardened with light to stabilize fractures)
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this device could offer a less invasive way to stabilize arm bones weakened by cancer, reducing pain and helping people regain daily function.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early study with only 14 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. The device may not work for all fracture types or could have complications like infection or device failure.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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14 people
The number who actually took part.
- Start date
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Feb 2015
- Finished
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Jun 2017
- Lead sponsor
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A company
The lead sponsor is a pharmaceutical, biotech, or medical-device company.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: -General Inclusion Criteria 1. Skeletally mature adult males and females 18 years of age or older. 2. Impending or actual pathological fracture of the humerus, secondary to metastatic bone disease. 3. Females: neither pregnant nor intending to become pregnant during the course of the study, defined as: 1. Postmenopausal for at least 1 year OR 2. Documented oophorectomy or hysterectomy 3. Surgically sterile OR 4. If of childbearing potential, must be practicing double-barrier method of birth control, be willing to avoid pregnancy for the period of study participation and have a negative pregnancy test at screening 4. Able to understand and provide informed consent. 5. Willing and able to comply with post-operative treatment protocol and follow-up visit schedule. -Impending Fracture-Specific Inclusion Criteria 6. Documented presence of solitary metastatic lesion. 7. Mirels Criteria Score ≥ 8. 8. Destruction of cortical bone at impending fracture site \> 50%. -Actual Fracture-Specific Inclusion Criteria 9. Radiograph-confirmed diagnosis of acute, single isolated fracture of the humerus. AO classification 11A1, 11A2 and 11B1, 11B2 and 12A1,12A2 and 12B1, 12B2 and 13A1,13A2 and 13B1, 13B2. 10. Fracture is closed, Gustilo Type I or IIA. Exclusion Criteria: -General Exclusion Criteria 1. Primary tumor (osteogenic origin, etc.) at site. 2. Impending fracture or actual fracture location other than humerus. 3. Current concomitant traumatic fracture of any other location. 4. Active or incompletely treated infections that could involve the device implant site. 5. Distant foci of infection that may spread to the implant site. 6. Allergy to implant materials or dental glue. 7. Vascular insufficiency, muscular atrophy, or neuromuscular disease at implant site. 8. Uncooperative patients, or patients who are incapable of following directions (for example, as a consequence of a neurological or psychiatric disorder). -Impending Fracture-Specific Exclusion Criteria 9. Mirels Score \< 8. 10. Destruction of cortical bone at impending fracture site \< 50%. 11. Prior surgery and/or prior fracture of affected site. 12. Any articular component to impending fracture site. -Actual Fracture-Specific Exclusion Criteria 13. Index treatment is greater than 28 days post fracture. 14. Open fractures with severe contamination. 15. Extremely comminuted fractures where insufficient holding power of the balloon on the intramedullary canal is probable. 16. Delivery sheath is unable to cross fracture site after proper fracture reduction and realignment 17. Patients whose intramedullary canal at site of fracture measures smaller than the diameter of the sheath provided.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Johannes Wesling Klinikum Minden
Minden, 32429, Germany
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Lahn-Dill Kliniken
Wetzlar, 35578, Germany
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Medical Center Leeuwarden
Leeuwarden, 8934 AD, Netherlands
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Medical University of Vienna
Vienna, 1090, Austria
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Medisch Spectrum Twente
Enschede, 7513 ER, Netherlands
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St. Vinzenz-Hospital GmbH
Cologne, D-50733, Germany
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Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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