Investigating if joint lavage helps reduce inflammation in severe ankle fractures
Does joint lavage reduce intraarticular inflammation in high-energy tibial pilon fractures?
This study is looking at how a cleaning procedure for the joint might help people with serious ankle fractures feel better and avoid long-term problems, and it involves comparing two different treatment options for those patients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Henry M. Jackson Fdn for the Adv Mil/med NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Bethesda, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-10888317 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research focuses on high-energy pilon fractures, which can lead to significant complications like post-traumatic arthritis. The study aims to understand how joint lavage, a procedure that cleans the joint, may reduce inflammation and improve patient outcomes. Patients with these fractures will have their synovial fluid analyzed for inflammatory markers, and they will be randomly assigned to receive either standard treatment or treatment with joint lavage. The goal is to determine if this additional step can help prevent long-term joint issues.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are adults aged 21 and older who have sustained high-energy pilon fractures requiring external fixation.
Not a fit: Patients with low-energy fractures or those who do not require surgical intervention may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved recovery and reduced risk of arthritis for patients with severe ankle fractures.
How similar studies have performed: While the approach of joint lavage has been explored in other contexts, this specific application in high-energy pilon fractures is novel and has not been extensively tested.
Where this research is happening
Bethesda, United States
- Henry M. Jackson Fdn for the Adv Mil/med — Bethesda, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wheatley, Benjamin M — Henry M. Jackson Fdn for the Adv Mil/med
- Study coordinator: Wheatley, Benjamin M
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.