Could a simple ER washout replace surgery for Kids' minor open fractures?
NCT ID NCT00870064
First seen Jul 01, 2026 · Last updated Jul 02, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This trial investigates whether children with minor open fractures (type I) can be treated safely in the emergency room with irrigation, closed reduction, and antibiotics, instead of undergoing formal surgery in the operating room. The study enrolls 300 children with low-energy fractures and wounds smaller than 1 cm. Researchers will compare infection rates, bone healing time, and other complications between the two approaches to see if the less invasive method is just as effective.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Formal operative treatment vs. emergency department treatment
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could show that many children with minor open fractures can be safely treated in the emergency room, avoiding the need for surgery and its associated costs and risks.
- What could go wrong
- This is a single trial with 300 children, and results may not apply to all fracture types or more severe injuries. There is a small risk that the emergency room approach could lead to higher infection rates or slower healing.
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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
-
Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
RECRUITINGChicago, Illinois, 60611, United States
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