Can a simple antibiotic shot stop open fracture infections?

NCT ID NCT04964947

Ongoing Disease control Sponsor: Massachusetts General Hospital Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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

Summary

This phase 3 trial tests whether adding a local injection of the antibiotic tobramycin to standard IV antibiotics can lower infection rates after open fracture surgery. Open fractures have a high risk of infection because the wound may not get enough blood flow for IV antibiotics to work well. The study enrolls 600 adults with open fractures of the arm or leg and will track infections for one year.

What this could mean

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

Active substance: tobramycin injection
What this could lead to: If it works, this could provide a simple, low-cost way to prevent serious infections after open fractures, reducing the need for repeat surgeries.
What could go wrong: This is a single trial with 600 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. Tobramycin can cause allergic reactions or kidney issues, and the added benefit over standard care may be small.

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

Get updates

Get notified about this study

Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for FRACTURES, OPEN are added.

Our safety recommendation!

By submitting, you agree to our Terms of use

Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

bone fracture Fractures, Open Surgical Wound Infection Wound Infection

As listed by the trial registrant

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

FRACTURES, OPEN SURGICAL SITE INFECTION WOUND INFECTION

Contacts and locations

Locations

Massachusetts General Hospital

Boston, Massachusetts, 02114, United States
University of Kentucky

Lexington, Kentucky, 40536, United States
Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Nashville, Tennessee, 37232, United States

More trials for these conditions

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