Our Trauma and Orthopaedics department is research-active, with a number of opportunities for patients to be involved.

LivD ACLR – ACL Living Donor Study

The LivD study has been set up by our consultants and physiotherapists. An increasing number of children in the UK and around the world are suffering a tear of one of the ligaments in the knee called the Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL). Usually this is fixed by using a tendon from behind the child’s knee to replace the torn ACL. The LivD study uses a technique practiced in Australia, where a tendon is taken from behind the parent’s knee and used to replace the torn ligament in the child’s knee. Based on some of the data from Australia, we think this is especially helpful in younger children, who are still growing, at preventing further injury to the knee.

ODDSOCKS

The ODD SOCKS study is looking at the best way to treat a type of ankle fracture in children aged 8 to 15.  Half the children and young people will have their broken bone treated with surgery, while the other half will have a plaster cast with no surgery. At the moment in the UK, children are treated with either of these options, but doctors do not know which is the best treatment.

WHITE 11 – (FRUITI)

The WHITE 11  study is looking at the best way to surgically treat a particular hip fracture, when the hip has fractured (broken) but the two ends of the bone have not moved apart from each other.  In the UK the hip can be fixed with metal screws, and keep as much of the person’s own bone as possible, or the broken piece of bone can be removed and replaced with part of a hip replacement or a total hip replacement.  The WHITE study will split patients half an half so that half have their hip fixed  and half replacement.  It will allow surgeons to see which give the best results for patients.

Pavlik harness

For babies born with a certain shape of hip, the usual treatment is to wear a harness called a Pavlik harness, to help their hips develop in a better shape. A Pavlik harness is worn 24 hours a day for up to 12 weeks. Although non-invasive, and usually very comfortable, it can result in stress and anxiety for parents and makes some caregiving tasks more difficult. If the hip severely malformed a harness is considered necessary but this study is looking at whether a Pavlik harness is needed for babies’ hips that are not as severely malformed (those known as GRAF 2 type hips), or whether regular ultrasound scans and reviews by doctors and physios are sufficient to check the hips are maturing on their own.

How to get involved

If you are interested in participating in research and would like some more information about the studies we are supporting, contact the Trauma and Orthopaedics Research team at mtw-tr.traumaorthopaedicresearchdelivery@nhs.net.