Cerament G in partial calcanectomy for heel bone infection
Official title: Randomised Controlled Trial Comparing Partial Calcanectomy Plus Local Application Antibiotic Impregnated Bone Graft Substitute for Calcaneal Osteomyelitis vs Partial Calcanectomy Alone (The ACHILLS Trial)
Run by Royal College of Surgeons, Ireland · NCT07057817 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This trial tests whether adding Cerament G to partial calcanectomy helps heal wounds and lower reinfection in adults with calcaneal osteomyelitis.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 30 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Royal College of Surgeons, Ireland Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Galway) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | January 1, 2026 |
| Main results expected | July 2029 |
| Study ends | December 2029 |
| Registry record updated | July 22, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07057817 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Adults 18 or older undergoing partial calcanectomy for calcaneal osteomyelitis, with diabetes (Type 1 or 2).
✕Probably not a fit
Patients without calcaneal osteomyelitis, those not undergoing partial calcanectomy, or those with contraindications to Cerament G or surgery may not benefit.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This multicenter, randomized feasibility study compares partial calcanectomy with Cerament G versus partial calcanectomy with standard antibiotic therapy alone for calcaneal osteomyelitis. Thirty adults will be followed for one year to measure wound healing rates, time to heal, re-infection, hospital stay, antibiotic use, costs, and quality of life. Participants are randomly assigned to receive Cerament G during surgery or not and will be stratified by pulse status and eGFR. The study aims to determine if Cerament G is feasible and potentially beneficial in this setting before a larger trial. Outcomes will inform whether this approach merits broader adoption.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If Cerament G proves beneficial, patients may experience faster wound healing, fewer infections, shorter hospital stays, and improved quality of life.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work in similar orthopedic infections suggests potential benefits of antibiotic-impregnated grafts, but this specific partial calcanectomy approach is relatively novel.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * 18 and over * Undergoing partial calcanectomy * Patients with Type1 or Type 2 Diabetes * Patients will be stratified by Pulse status and eGFR Exclusion Criteria: * Patients unfit for surgery * Patients unable to provide informed consent * Patients with overwhelming sepsis that require major amputation * Patients with hypersensitivity to aminoglycosides * Pre-existing calcium metabolism disorder * Severe renal impairment * Patients in whom major limb amputation is deemed inevitable by the treating physician
Where it's running
-
University Hospital Galway
Galway, Ireland Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: James Walsh — Beaumont Hospital
- Study coordinator: James Walsh
- Email: james@walshortho.ie
- Phone: +353 1 809 3344
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.