Open Fracture

To evaluate the feasibility, safety, and potential efficacy of applying vancomycin powder locally to open fractures in the emergency department prior to definitive surgical intervention.

The purpose of this study is to help doctors who treat open fractures understand how much fluid is required when cleaning out the wound. Participants will spend about 12 months in this study and will be asked to answer study questions about your recovery at your typical follow up clinic visits with your surgeon. After the surgeon has determined a participant's bone has healed, any remaining study visits can be conducted over the phone, email, and/or mail. Participants will not be asked to attend additional clinic visits as part of this study. Researchers will compare two different fluid volume protocols to determine if one results in better fracture and/or wound healing.

This is the first prospective controlled study to determine whether the topical application of vancomycin powder reduces infection-related complications when applied to open fracture injuries in the acute emergency department setting.

This is a pilot prospective, observational study of patients with open or infected fracture evaluating the feasibility and acceptability of OCT, a light-based imaging modality that requires no drug or contrast agent.

The purpose of this randomized control trial is to compare the rate of post-operative infection in patients with open fractures in upper or lower extremity long bones randomized to receive intra-operative intrawound topical vancomycin powder on their open fractures in addition to the current best practice of intravenous antibiotics with irrigation and debridement compared to intravenous antibiotics with irrigation and debridement alone during definitive operative fixation of the fracture.