Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy as Adjunctive Treatment for Fracture-Related Infection (NCT07535164) | Clinical Trial Compass
Not Yet RecruitingPhase 2
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy as Adjunctive Treatment for Fracture-Related Infection
Netherlands50 participantsStarted 2026-08
Plain-language summary
A fracture-related infection (FRI) is a difficult to treat condition in which a bone fracture and surrounding tissues are infected. This results in impaired healing and ongoing symptoms such as pain, wound leakage and swelling, which affects patients' functioning and quality of life. Despite adequate treatment in the form of extensive surgical debridement and long-term antibiotics, it is hard to obtain infection eradication.
This pilot, non-blinded, randomized controlled trial (RCT) will assess the feasibility of a subsequent, larger RCT, in which hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) will be investigated as potential treatment modality for FRI in adjunction to standard care. HBOT induces an increased oxygen tension in the body and thereby inhibits inflammation and the growth of several bacteria. Furthermore, it stimulates bone and blood vessel formation. Therefore, HBOT might be of added value in the treatment of FRI. Data on process-related outcomes, patient-reported outcome measures, and clinical parameters are obtained during this pilot study to determine whether a subsequent study investigating the efficacy of HBOT is viable.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* Age ≥ 18 years
* Confirmed or highly suspected post-traumatic FRI of the lower limb, for which surgical intervention will be conducted
Exclusion Criteria:
* Patients with a known contraindication for HBOT: untreated pneumothorax; epilepsy; middle ear or thorax surgery in the previous 12 months; inability to equalize the ears; COPD grade 4 or other severe air trapping lung disease; presence of a device that is not known to be compatible with HBOT; severe claustrophobia; pregnancy; BMI ≥ 35; obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome or obesity hypoventilation syndrome with a chronic increased PaCO2 \> 6.4 kPa
* Patients with an early (i.e. diagnosed \<6 weeks post initial trauma) FRI, which is treated by DAIR-procedure (Debridement, Antibiotics, Implant Retention) without soft tissue reconstruction
* Patients with an active isolation precautions protocol which is incompatible with treatment in a hyperbaric chamber (i.e. with multiple patients in the chamber at the same time)
* Inability to understand Dutch or English
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Number of subjects included
Timeframe: 1 year
2
Number of HBOT sessions completed by each subject in the intervention group
Timeframe: Within 30 days after the first HBOT session
3
Amount of missing data per PROM per time point
Timeframe: At baseline and 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year after the initial surgery in the context of FRI treatment
4
Number of complete questionnaires per PROM per timepoint
Timeframe: At baseline and 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year after the initial surgery in the context of FRI treatment
Trial details
NCT IDNCT07535164
SponsorAcademisch Medisch Centrum - Universiteit van Amsterdam (AMC-UvA)