Antibiotic Loaded Calcium Sulfate RCT

Lawson Health Research Institute

Status

Terminated

Conditions

Infection

Fracture Non Union

Treatments

Other: Antibiotic loaded bone filler

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

Other

Industry

Identifiers

NCT03875963

5148

Details and patient eligibility

About

This is a multi-centered, prospective, randomized controlled trial comparing current standard of care for defect management to placement of antibiotic loaded Stimulan as a bone void filler in patients undergoing treatment of infected tibial defects or infected tibial nonunions.

Full description

There is a tremendous burden of disease associated with infected bone defects and infected nonunions and their management is challenging. Infected bone defects and nonunions have a profound clinical and economic impact and outcomes are limited by high rates of re-operation and poor functional outcomes. Reconstruction of infected bone defects or nonunions is difficult with multiple treatment options that may be considered. A comprehensive approach includes the treatment of infection, the management of dead space, skeletal stabilization, stimulation of soft tissue healing and healing of the bone defect or nonunion.

There is little evidence and a distinct lack of consensus regarding the definitive management of infected bone defects and infected nonunions. A two stage approach is still the gold standard for management and it remains unclear when alternative approaches should be considered. The first stage of the procedure includes adequate debridement, skeletal stabilization as required and placement of a polymethyl methacrylate cement spacer with or without antibiotics at the site of the bone defect. The second stage typically occurs between 6-8 weeks later with removal of the cement spacer and bone grafting into the preserved defect. There is no clear preferred management strategy and there remains a significant evidence gap.

There has been a significant interest in the use of bone graft substitutes for defect management as part of the management of infected bone defects and infected nonunions. The use of calcium sulfate as an alternative synthetic bone graft material has long been established (1-4), and the combination of calcium sulfate with antibiotics has been reported in the literature almost as long as antibiotics have been available (5, 6).

The clinical performance of calcium sulfate in combination with a single antibiotic, Tobramycin, is well documented (7, 8). However, in recent years, the use of calcium sulfate in combination with multiple antibiotics has grown in use as a means of providing protection from bacterial colonization by a wider variety of gram negative and gram positive pathogens (9-12). This study will evaluate the clinical performance of a high purity calcium sulfate bone void filler, STIMULAN® Rapid Cure. STIMULAN® Rapid Cure is intended to be gently packed into bony voids or gaps of the skeletal system (i.e., extremities, pelvis, and posterolateral spine). STIMULAN® Rapid Cure provides a bone graft substitute that resorbs and is replaced with bone during the healing process. STIMULAN® Rapid Cure is biodegradable and biocompatible and may be used at an infected site.

The proposed study is a multi-centered, prospective, randomized controlled trial, comparing current standard of care for defect management to placement of antibiotic loaded Stimulan as a bone void filler in patients undergoing treatment of infected tibial defects or infected tibial nonunions. Patients with an infected tibial bone defect or infected tibial nonunion meeting inclusion criteria will be randomized to receive either standard of care for defect management (Group A) or placement of antibiotic loaded Stimulan (10cc Stimulan Rapid Cure, 1g Vancomycin, 240mg Tobramycin) as a bone void filler (Group B), with a standardized intervention and post-intervention protocol.

Enrollment

100 patients

Sex

All

Ages

16+ years old

Volunteers

No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

≥16 years old.
Isolated infected tibia defect or infected tibial nonunion (characterized by clinical symptoms present for greater than 90 days, the presence of necrotic bone, and bacteria cultured from prior procedures, surgical biopsy, or draining sinuses).

Exclusion criteria

Presence of previous vascular injury or pathologic fracture
Associated lower limb injuries that would interfere with rehabilitation or outcome
Refusal to participate
Inability to provide informed consent
Inability to speak/understand or read English without a registered interpreter.
Allergy or sensitivity to Vancomycin or Tobramycin

Trial design

Primary purpose

Treatment

Allocation

Randomized

Interventional model

Parallel Assignment

Masking

Single Blind

100 participants in 2 patient groups

Antibiotic loaded bone filler

Experimental group

Description:

Patients will undergo irrigation and debridement, surgical stabilization as required, and defect management by placement of antibiotic loaded Stimulan as a bone void filler \[calcium sulfate bone void filler (10 cc of STIMULAN(R) Rapid Cure, Biocomposites Ltd, UK) combined with the following antibiotic combination: 1g Vancomycin, 240mg Tobramycin\]. The concurrent use of antibiotics is at the discretion of the treating physician.

Treatment:

Other: Antibiotic loaded bone filler

Standard of care

No Intervention group

Description:

Current standard of care treatment for infected tibial defects or infected tibial nonunions includes treatment with irrigation and debridement, surgical stabilization as required, and defect management as required including placement of a polymethyl methacrylate spacer with or without antibiotics. A second procedure may or may not occur 6-8 weeks later with removal of the cement spacer and bone grafting into the preserved defect. Concurrent use of antibiotics is at the discretion of the treating physician.