RecruitingNot Applicable

The CARBO CARBON Study: a Prospective Observational Comparative Cohort Study on CO2 Emissions From Metacarpal Shaft Fracture Treatment

Sweden30 participantsStarted 2026-03-23

Plain-language summary

This study examines the environmental impact of two common treatments for hand fractures (metacarpal shaft fractures): surgery and non-surgical care. Healthcare contributes significantly to climate change, and orthopedic surgery in particular can generate substantial greenhouse gas emissions. Although surgery is frequently used for these fractures, it is not always clearly more effective than non-surgical treatment, and the difference in environmental impact between these options is not well understood. In this study, researchers will measure and compare the carbon footprint of each treatment pathway, from injury through one year of follow-up. This includes emissions related to medical equipment, energy use, medications, and waste. The goal is to calculate the difference in environmental impact between treatments and to highlight key sources of emissions. The findings may help guide more sustainable healthcare practices without compromising patient care.

Who can participate

Age range18 Years

SexALL

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AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: Age ≥18 years. Access to a valid e-mail. Injury within 10 days prior to inclusion. Normal bilateral hand function prior to injury. Ability and willingness to provide written informed consent Single, displaced spiral or oblique diaphyseal fracture of the second to fifth metacarpals with definition of diaphysis as described by AO 2018 (AO/OTA as 77.2-5.2A) (Meinberg et al., 2018). Fracture line length at least twice the diameter of the bone at the level of the fracture. Fractures with at least 2 mm of radiological displacement and/or malrotation of injured finger compared to uninjured side regardless of fracture displacement. Exclusion Criteria: The patient is not expected to have difficulty adhering to the study protocol (e.g., due to insufficient language proficiency, dementia, substance abuse, or other reasons). The patient does not have an open fracture (Gustilo-Anderson grade \> I) or a pathological fracture. The patient does not have an ipsilateral fracture of the upper extremity, polytrauma, or generalized joint dysfunction (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis).

What they're measuring

Carbon dioxide equivalent

Timeframe: 12 months

Trial details

NCT IDNCT07521943

SponsorKarolinska Institutet

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2028-03

Contact for this trial

Cecilia Mellstrand Navarro, MD, PhD

+46709280114 cecilia.mellstrand.navarro@ki.se