Ring fixators vs. internal fixation: which is better for severe leg fractures?
NCT ID NCT01494519
First seen May 26, 2026
Summary
This study looked at 442 people with severe open fractures of the shin bone (tibia). It compared two surgical approaches: using a modern ring external fixator (a frame outside the leg) versus internal fixation (a metal rod or plate placed inside the bone). The main goal was to see which method leads to fewer hospital readmissions for complications like infection or bone healing problems.
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This is a summary of
the original study
.
Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
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Contacts and locations
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Locations
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Allegheny General Hospital
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15212, United States
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Boston Medical Center
Boston, Massachusetts, 02118, United States
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Carolinas Medical Center
Charlotte, North Carolina, 28232, United States
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Denver Health and Hospital Authority
Denver, Colorado, 80204, United States
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Eskenazi Health
Indianapolis, Indiana, 46202, United States
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Florida Orthopaedic Institute, Tampa General Hospital
Tampa, Florida, 33606, United States
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Geisinger Health System
Danville, Pennsylvania, 17822, United States
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Hennepin County Medical Center / Minneapolis
Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55415, United States
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MetroHealth Medical Center
Cleveland, Ohio, 44109, United States
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Mission Hospital
Asheville, North Carolina, 28801, United States
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Naval Medical Center Portsmouth
Portsmouth, Virginia, 23708, United States
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Naval Medical Center San Diego
San Diego, California, 92134, United States
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Orlando Regional Medical Center
Orlando, Florida, 32806, United States
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OrthoIndy / Methodist Hospital
Indianapolis, Indiana, 46202, United States
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Penn State University M.S. Hershey Medical Center
Hershey, Pennsylvania, 17033, United States
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Regions Hospital
Saint Paul, Minnesota, 55101, United States
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San Antonio Military Medical Center
Fort Sam Houston, Texas, 78234-6315, United States
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St Vincent Hospital
Indianapolis, Indiana, 46260, United States
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St. Louis Medical Center
St Louis, Missouri, 63110, United States
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Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
El Paso, Texas, 79905, United States
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UCSF Medical Center
San Francisco, California, 94115, United States
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UT Health: The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston Medical School
Houston, Texas, 77030, United States
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University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, Alabama, 35294, United States
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University of Maryland, R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center
Baltimore, Maryland, 21201, United States
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University of Miami Ryder Trauma Center
Miami, Florida, 33101, United States
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University of Mississippi Medical Center
Jackson, Mississippi, 39216, United States
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University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15213, United States
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University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio
San Antonio, Texas, 78229, United States
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University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Dallas, Texas, 75390, United States
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University of Wisconsin
Madison, Wisconsin, 53705, United States
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Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Nashville, Tennessee, 37232, United States
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Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center
Winston-Salem, North Carolina, 27157-1070, United States
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Walter Reed National Military Medical Center
Bethesda, Maryland, 20889, United States
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
Active substance
Surgery with an external ring fixator or internal fixation (nail/plate)
What this could lead to
If successful, this could show which surgical method reduces complications and re-hospitalizations for severe open tibia fractures.
What could go wrong
This is a completed Phase 3 trial, but results may not apply to all fracture types or settings. Individual outcomes vary by injury severity and patient factors.
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.