Biodegradable Magnesium Screws for Unstable Ankle Fracture Surgery (NCT07693933)
🩺 Plain-English Summary (8th-Grade Level)
Ankle fractures are among the most common injuries that need surgery. When the broken bones make the ankle unstable, surgeons usually fix them with metal screws and plates. Metal hardware holds the bones in place well, but it can cause irritation, can loosen or break, and often has to be removed in a second surgery later. This study looks at a different kind of screw called the RemeOs magnesium-based screw. It is made from a magnesium alloy and is designed to slowly dissolve and be absorbed by the body over about two to three years after it has done its job of holding the bone together. Because it dissolves on its own, patients may not need a second surgery to remove the hardware. These screws are authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in medial malleolus ankle fractures. In this study, they are being used as an off-label indication. The purpose of this study is to learn how well these magnesium screws work and how safe they are when used to repair unstable ankle fractures. The study will enroll at least 25 adults (ages 18 to 80) who have an unstable ankle fracture that needs surgery. All participants will have their fracture repaired with RemeOs screws as part of their normal surgical care. After surgery, participants will be followed for 12 months. They will return for check-ups at about 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months. At these visits, the study team will examine the ankle, take X-rays to see how the bone is healing and how the screws are dissolving, ask about any complications, and have participants fill out questionnaires about their ankle function and pain. The main thing the study measures is ankle function at 12 months, scored using a standard ankle questionnaire (the Olerud-Molander Ankle Score). The study also tracks pain, healing on X-rays, how the screws break down over time, and any complications such as infection, loss of fixation, non-healing, or the need for additional surgery. The surgery, X-rays, and follow-up visits in this study are the same care patients would receive whether or not they take part. The only research-specific parts are giving consent and filling out the study questionnaires. Taking part is voluntary and does not change the care a patient receives.
Who can join: To join this study, participants generally need to meet the listed inclusion criteria (5 items) and avoid the listed exclusions (14 items).
Location: Massachusetts General Hospital — Boston, Massachusetts
📋 "Do I Qualify?" — 1-Minute Self Screener
Instant ChecklistCheck every box below. If you can check all of them, you may meet the study's basic screening requirements (final eligibility is confirmed by the site team).
Usually NOT eligible if any of the following apply:
- Exclusion Criteria:
- Body mass index (BMI) \> 40
- Open fractures
- Pathologic fractures
- Active infection at the surgical site
- Known allergy or hypersensitivity to magnesium or implant components
- Severe peripheral vascular disease
- Uncontrolled diabetes mellitus
- Prior ankle surgery on the affected limb
- Concomitant osteochondral lesions requiring treatment
- Neuromuscular disorders affecting the lower extremity
- Worker's compensation cases
🔍 Extracted verbatim from the official NIH eligibility criteria. Always confirm with the study coordinator.
📍 All Participating Trial Locations (1 Sites)
- Massachusetts General Hospital — Boston, Massachusetts
💰 Cost, Insurance & Patient Rights
- 100% Free Items: The investigational treatment and protocol-required procedures are supplied at zero cost by the sponsor.
- Routine Patient Care: Under federal law (ACA § 2709) and many state statutes, routine care costs are covered during participation.
- Voluntary Participation: You may withdraw at any time without affecting your standard medical care.