An interventional study of Accelerated Flap Coverage Surgery and Standard of Care Flap Timing in Open Tibia Fracture, Open Dislocation of Ankle and Extremity Fracture Lower, sponsored by Johns Hopkins University. Recruiting at 11 sites in 4 countries. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-09-18.
Sponsored by Johns Hopkins University · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
The goal of this randomized controlled trial is to determine if accelerated flap coverage compared to standard flap coverage timing leads to improved infection-related complications in patients with open fractures and/or dislocations below the knee. Eligible patients will be randomized to receive either a flap within a goal of 72 hours of injury or standard of care flap timing for the institution. The primary outcome will be a composite outcome to evaluate clinical status 6 months after randomization. Components of the composite outcome will be hierarchically assessed in the following order: 1) all-cause mortality, 2) amputation related to injury, 3) re-operation for infection and/or flap complication (flap compromise, partial and/or complete flap failure), and 4) days in hospital, defined as days in an acute in-patient hospital (i.e., not rehab or nursing facility).
This is the vanguard and international part of the FLAP ATTACK trial.
Infection following severe lower extremity musculoskeletal injuries is a challenging problem. Several factors hypothesized to influence infection have been explored and, in many cases, optimized or found not to be influential. A persistent area of uncertainty and variability is the timing of acute soft tissue coverage. In the United States, the mean time to coverage from injury is 10 days, and infection rates are 20-35%. In the United Kingdom, there are national guidelines to support coverage within 72 hours of injury, and infection rates are less than 10%. While the data to support early coverage is promising, the necessary evidence to make this significant change is lacking. To justify the mobilization of resources and expense required to shift practice, a definitive trial is needed. This trial seeks to fill this critical knowledge gap.
The primary objective of this trial is to determine if accelerated flap coverage (within 72 hours of injury) compared to standard flap coverage timing leads lower rates of infection and infection-related complications. The trial population includes patients 18 years and older with an acute open fracture and/or dislocation below the knee, with a diagnosed need for acute soft tissue coverage with a flap. Patients who undergo primary amputation prior to attempted flap coverage will be excluded. There will be 356 participants randomized in 1:1 ratio to receive either accelerated flap coverage (goal of flap within 72 hours from injury) or flap coverage at the time that reflects the standard of care at each institution. The timing of the trial interventions, other adjunctive treatments, the fracture fixation, and flap coverage procedures will be documented for both treatment groups. Management of the fracture or dislocation, selection of flap, and post-injury flap management will be at the discretion of the operating surgeons and documented for both treatment groups. Participants will have follow-up at 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months post-randomization.
The primary outcome will be a composite outcome to evaluate clinical status 6 months after randomization. Components of the composite outcome will be hierarchically assessed in the following order: 1) all-cause mortality, 2) amputation related to injury, 3) re-operation for infection and/or flap complication (flap compromise, partial and/or complete flap failure), and 4) days in hospital, defined as days in an acute in-patient hospital (i.e., not rehab or nursing facility). The secondary outcomes will independently assess the individual components of the primary outcome at 6 and 12 months, the composite outcome at 12 months, and health-related quality of life and patient satisfaction over 6 and 12 months. An Adjudication Committee will review primary and secondary endpoints and a Data Safety Monitoring Committee (DSMC) will review all safety events.
The inclusion criteria are:
The exclusion criteria are:
Accelerated flap surgery timing at a goal of within 72 hours from injury. Management of the fracture or dislocation, selection of flap, and post-injury flap management will be at the discretion of the operating surgeons and documented for both treatment groups.
Procedure: Accelerated Flap Coverage Surgery
The flap surgery will be performed at the standard of care timing for the institution. Management of the fracture or dislocation, selection of flap, and post-injury flap management will be at the discretion of the operating surgeons and documented for both treatment groups.
Procedure: Standard of Care Flap Timing
Timing of the flap surgery is with a goal of 72 hours from injury
Timing of the flap surgery is the standard of care flap timing for the participating institution.
Clinical status
Clinical status is a hierarchical composite of the following outcomes: 1. All-cause mortality 2. Amputation related to injury 3. Re-operation for infection and/or flap complication (flap compromise, partial and/or complete flap failure) 4. Days in hospital, defined as days in an acute in-patient hospital (i.e., not rehab or nursing facility)
Time frame: 6 months
Mortality
All-cause mortality. Mortality will be time-to-event, with the assumption that earlier is worse than later.
Time frame: 6 months and 12 months
Amputation
Amputation related to injury. Amputation will be time-to-event, with the assumption that earlier is worse than later.
Time frame: 6 months and 12 months
Unplanned re-operation
Unplanned re-operation for infection and/or flap complication (flap compromise, partial and/or complete flap failure). Re-operation for infection and major flap complication will account for more than one operation, assuming that more operations are worse.
Time frame: 6 months and 12 months
Number of days in hospital
Days in an acute in-patient hospital (i.e., not rehab or nursing facility)
Time frame: 6 months and 12 months
Patient-reported health status as assessed by the Euro-QoL (EQ-5D-5L)
Patient-reported health status as assessed by the EQ-5D-5L. The EQ-5D-5L is scored on a 0 to 100 mm scale. 0 mm represents "the worst health you can imagine to 100 mm which represents "the best health you can imagine".
Time frame: 6 months and 12 months
Quality of life as assessed by the Limb-Q
Health-related quality of life and patient satisfaction measured with the Limb-Q. The Limb-Q is a set of independently functioning scales. All scales are scored 0-100 (higher = better). The Limb-Q Appearance, Physical, Symptoms, Financial Impact, Life Impact, and Psychological scales will be used.
Time frame: 6 months and 12 months
Clinical Status
Clinical status is a hierarchical composite of the following outcomes: 1. All-cause mortality 2. Amputation related to injury 3. Re-operation for infection and/or flap complication (flap compromise, partial and/or complete flap failure) 4. Days in hospital, defined as days in an acute in-patient hospital (i.e., not rehab or nursing facility)
Time frame: 12 months
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