View clinical trials related to Wounds and Injuries.
Filter by:Problem: Depressive symptoms are a common mental health problem following traumatic brain injury (TBI), occurring in up to 87% of patients. Depression following TBI has important consequences including poor functioning, lack of ability to return to work and family activities and prolonged TBI symptoms. The reason depression develops in some patients following TBI is unknown, making treatment difficult. One type of brain protein that shows genetic differences between people is called the serotonin transporter. People can be divided by whether or not they have a short protein (S allele) or a long protein (L allele) which influences the amount of serotonin transporter. Serotonin is a key brain chemical in depression in many mental/psychiatric illnesses. We think that the genetic differences in the serotonin transporter, that may not make a difference before TBI, may become important after TBI due to the nature of these injuries. Methods: A consecutive sample of 200 patients attending a TBI clinic who have sustained a mild-to-moderate TBI (American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine criteria) within the last 2 months will be assessed for the presence of major depression (standard criteria, standardized interview). In phase I, blood samples from patients with mild-to-moderate TBI with depression and without depression will be checked for the presence of the 5-HTTPR genetic difference. This will allow us to study if the S allele is more likely in TBI patients with depression. In phase II, the patients with depression will be treated with the SSRI citalopram for 6 weeks. At 6 weeks, or upon discontinuation of citalopram, depression will be assessed again. This will allow us to study if depressed patients with the S allele respond more poorly to treatment. Persons assessing depression after treatment will not know the genetic makeup of each patient. Results Expected: If the serotonin transporter genetic difference confers susceptibility to depression following TBI, this will provide important information on what causes depression following TBI and document a risk factor for depression previously unstudied in this population. Also, as SSRI antidepressants are used to treat depression in TBI, this study may identify a subgroup of TBI patients in whom different medications should be given or additional medications are required.
Functional electrical stimulation is a process that uses low intensity electrical pulses generated by an electric stimulator to create muscle contractions. By contracting muscles in a specific sequence, one can generate various body functions such as grasping, walking, and standing.The study is designed to evaluate the effectiveness and long term benefits of applying functional electrical simulation during early rehabilitation to improve grasping function in persons who have suffered a spinal cord injury. By using functional electrical stimulation,these patients could potentially improve their grasping function.
To learn more about behavior and everyday functioning after brain injury, and to learn if behavior and functioning gets better with more education about changes after brain injury.
The purpose of this study is to determine if treatment with venlafaxine reduces symptoms of depression in persons with traumatic brain injury.
Hypothesis 1: There is less tunnel-widening with bone-patella tendon-bone graft compared with the hamstring graft when the same fixation method is used. Tunnel widening is greater with achilles tendon allografts versus autograft bone-patella tendon-bone and hamstring autografts. Hypothesis 2: Tunnel widening occurs in the early post-operative period (< 8 weeks) when the tendon remodels within the bone tunnels. Hypothesis 3: Low pre-operative bone mineral density is associated with tunnel widening.
Brain damage as a result of decreased oxygen to the brain is found in 80% of patients that die with severe head injuries. Laboratory studies in animals and clinical trials have shown that increasing oxygen in the brain results in better brain oxygen consumption, less cell death, and better functional outcome. This study will test the hypothesis that Oxycyte is an effective way to increase brain oxygen levels in severe head injury.
To study the safety and efficacy of early administration of Low Molecular Weight Heparin to patients with traumatic brain injury.
Test the hypothesis that the implementation of real-time, computer-prompted algorithms in the first half hour of trauma management will result in a measurable reduction in management errors associated with the reception and resuscitation of major trauma patients. Demonstrate that a reduction in management errors will translate into a reduction in morbidity and mortality.
The Alfred Hospital receives approximately 40% of the major trauma patients in Victoria, all of whom are at risk for spinal injuries. The potential for spinal injuries necessitates the undertaking of appropriate spinal investigations, and a delay in the completion of these investigations exposes the patient to the risk of a missed diagnosis of spinal instability and of complications of immobility; the potential spinal patient is required to wear a neck collar and be nursed lying flat whilst awaiting the completion and the appropriate documentation of spinal X-ray investigations. The purpose of this study is to identify the issues causing a delay in the process of the completion of the appropriate spinal investigations and the documentation of the results. The outcome of the proposed research will be the development of a clinical management protocol to expedite the process, with the aim of optimising patient care and reducing complications.
The primary objective of this study is to evaluate skin graft adherence and wound healing in burn patients to evaluate whether FS 4IU VH S/D is equivalent or superior to the current standard of care (staples). The primary endpoint is achievement of complete (100%) wound closure within 28 days.