Clinical Trials Logo

Clinical Trial Summary

The Investigators have developed a camera based drill guidance system to improve the accuracy of surgical drilling. The aim of the study is to assess: Accuracy in vivo Safety Acceptability of use amongst surgeons and theatre staff


Clinical Trial Description

This project is a collaboration between the Royal United Hospitals Bath and the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Bath in the development of a drill guidance system to aid intra-operative surgical drilling in Orthopaedic and trauma surgery. The types of operation will include drilling into bones to place screws or wires to develop a track for passage of a screw, suture or other material. The project has been funded by an National Institute for Health Invention for Innovation Grant (NIHR i4i) over 3 years. The Drill Guide System (DGS) has been developed so it can be attached to a surgical drill with the overall aim of improving the accuracy of surgical drilling of holes in bones. The drilling will be performed as standard, i.e. as required for any specific operation. The drill guide will be an adjunct to visual observation by the surgeon and fluoroscopy (peri-operative radiographs - X-rays). The surgeon can decide to not use the drill guide if it is considered to be hampering the operation. A camera and computer based system attached to a surgical drill will be used to improve drilling accuracy in an operating theatre The Drill Guidance system has undergone rigorous testing and various laboratory trials with surgeons and operating staff as part of development of the design. The final prototype will be used as part of a wider clinical trial involving Orthopaedic Surgeons at the Royal United Hospitals Bath and the Great Western Hospital, Swindon (within the NHS) to test the efficacy and value of the system during surgery. The Investigators intend to recruit up to 30 surgical patients as part of the trial from two sites. Background: It is recognised clinically and in laboratory studies that "freehand" drilling has appreciable inaccuracies. This risks misplacement of screws potentially compromising surgical outcome and increasing the risk of complications. Furthermore, inaccurate initial drilling can lead to inaccurate subsequent drilling and so suboptimal positioning of the screw/wire with potential adverse outcomes and increased costs. The screw may be placed and then have to be changed. A new different length screw may be required with the first screw discarded with further costs. ;


Study Design


Related Conditions & MeSH terms


NCT number NCT06309784
Study type Interventional
Source Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust
Contact Grey Giddins, FRCS
Phone 07828149967
Email greygiddins@nhs.net
Status Recruiting
Phase N/A
Start date March 19, 2024
Completion date October 31, 2024

See also
  Status Clinical Trial Phase
Completed NCT00822549 - Pharmacokinetic, Pharmacodynamic and Pharmacogenetic of Morphine After Surgery N/A
Completed NCT02610894 - An mHealth Self-Management Program to Decrease Postoperative Symptom Distress N/A
Completed NCT05601765 - The Effect of Digital Team-based Communication on Patient-initiated Telephone Contacts to Hospital After Discharge N/A
Completed NCT02720965 - Remote Controlled Analgesia on Patient Experience N/A
Recruiting NCT03545230 - Results of "Four Not Techniques" in Delayed and Nonunion Fractures of Lateral Humeral Condyle in Children N/A
Completed NCT03962907 - Preoperative Decolonization and Surgical Site Infections in Orthopaedic Surgery - 2 Year Outcome in Prosthetic Surgery Phase 4
Completed NCT03481439 - Development and Impact of Multivariate Model-based Strategy to Target High-risk Patients of Postoperative Complication
Withdrawn NCT00883805 - Investigation of Systemic Metal Ion Concentration Following a Ceramic-on-metal Total Hip Arthroplasty N/A