Capillary (finger‑prick) lactate to predict severity after major multi‑injury

Prognostic Value of Capillary Lactatemia in Potentially Severe Polytrauma in Pre-hospital Care

NA · Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nice · NCT06969404

This project will test whether a quick capillary (finger‑prick) lactate test at the injury scene can help predict which adults with potentially serious multi‑injury will have poor outcomes.

Quick facts

PhaseNA
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment550 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorCentre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nice (other)
Locations3 sites (Antibes and 2 other locations)
Trial IDNCT06969404 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

Pre-hospital emergency teams will take a finger‑prick (capillary) blood sample from adults with potentially serious polytrauma and measure lactate levels on scene. Those capillary lactate values will be compared with clinical outcomes after transfer to participating emergency hospitals in the Alpes‑Maritimes to see if they predict poor outcomes similarly to venous lactate. Eligible cases include road traffic collisions or falls from over 2 metres requiring SMUR dispatch and medical transfer; pregnant patients may be included and consent can be obtained after stabilization. The study aims to determine whether a rapid, low‑risk point‑of‑care test can be incorporated into pre‑hospital triage protocols.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Adults over 18 with potentially serious pre‑hospital trauma (road accident or fall >2 m) attended by the SMUR 06 team and transferred to an emergency facility in the Alpes‑Maritimes are the ideal candidates.

Not a fit: Patients with isolated peripheral limb injuries, those under legal protection (guardianship/curatorship), patients in cardiorespiratory arrest on SMUR arrival, and minors are unlikely to benefit from this protocol.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, a rapid capillary lactate test could help emergency teams quickly identify high‑risk trauma patients and improve triage and transport decisions.

How similar studies have performed: Venous lactate has been shown to predict poor outcomes in severe trauma, but using capillary lactate in the pre‑hospital setting is novel and not established in the published literature.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Patient over 18 years of age
* Presenting a potentially serious pre-hospital trauma defined by:

  o A road accident or a fall of more than 2 metres
* Requiring the dispatch of a SMUR 06 team (mobile emergency and resuscitation service)
* And transferred to an emergency facility in the Alpes Maritimes with medical assistance.
* Consent signed (by the patient or a relative) after the event if it is not possible to sign immediately.
* Pregnant women may also take part in the study without any risk to themselves or their child.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Patients with isolated peripheral limb trauma (wrist, elbow, knee, ankle, shoulder)
* Patients under legal protection (guardianship, curatorship)
* Patients in cardiorespiratory arrest when taken into care by the SMUR (emergency medical services)

Where this trial is running

Antibes and 2 other locations

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.

View on ClinicalTrials.gov →

Conditions: Polytrauma

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.