Early Versus Delayed Bathing of Orthopaedic Surgical Wounds

Launched by HOSPITAL FOR SPECIAL SURGERY, NEW YORK · Aug 21, 2023

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is looking at the effects of bathing on surgical wounds after orthopedic surgery for fractures. Specifically, it compares two approaches: early bathing, where patients can shower without covering their wounds, and delayed bathing, where wounds are kept covered until a later time. The goal is to see if either method impacts the risk of infection in these wounds.

To participate, you need to be at least 18 years old and have a recent isolated fracture that requires surgical treatment. This trial is open to everyone, regardless of gender. If you join, you'll either be placed in the early or delayed bathing group, or you can choose to participate in a non-randomized way where you’ll still be followed up but won’t be assigned to a specific bathing method. This study is currently recruiting participants and aims to better understand how bathing practices can affect recovery.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Patients over 18 years of age
• • Patient who are not pregnant
• • Isolated acute fractures of the upper or lower extremities (humerus, radius, ulna, femur, tibia, or fibula)
• • Diagnosis of a fracture meeting indication for operative intervention
• • Any fracture not requiring a splint for post-operative management
• • Non-complicated wounds (non-traumatic wounds, closed injuries, fractures not requiring external fixation, and acute fracture surgery)
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Fractures associated with presumed infection
• • Patients with multiple fractures
• • Fractures in patients with underlying associated immune compromise
• • Fractures in patients with underlying peripheral vascular disease
• • Use of VAC
• • Surgery performed through previous surgical wound
• • Patient homeless
• • Fractures in patients with underlying diabetes mellitus
• • Complicated wounds (traumatic wounds, need for post-op wound care, open injuries, need for external fixation)