Extra oxygen during surgery may cut infection risk after bad breaks

NCT ID NCT01798810

Completed Disease control Sponsor: Major Extremity Trauma Research Consortium Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This study tested whether giving patients extra oxygen (80% FiO2) during surgery could reduce surgical site infections after severe tibial plateau or pilon fractures. Over 1,100 patients were randomly assigned to receive either supplemental oxygen or standard care. The main goal was to see if infection rates within 6 months were lower in the oxygen group.

What this could mean

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

Active substance: Supplemental perioperative oxygen (80% FiO2 during surgery)
What this could lead to: If it works, this could provide a simple, low-cost way to lower infection rates after high-energy fracture surgery.
What could go wrong: This is a completed trial, but the intervention is a procedural change, not a drug. The benefit may be small or not apply to all fracture types.

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

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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.

POST OPERATIVE SURGICAL SITE INFECTION

Contacts and locations

Locations

Banner University Medical Center/The CORE Institute

Phoenix, Arizona, 85023, United States
University of Maryland R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center

Baltimore, Maryland, 21201, United States

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