Translating Metabolic Responses to Mechanical Insult Into Early Interventions to Prevent PTOA

June 8, 2026 updated by: J L Marsh
This is a small-scale proof-of concept clinical trial of amobarbital as a treatment to prevent post-traumatic osteoarthritis in fractured ankle joints. The study is a double blind, prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, stepwise trial. Amobarbital will be delivered to ankle joints in solution with hyaluronic acid (HA) as a vehicle. Amobarbital/HA injections (active dose) will be compared to HA alone (placebo dose). Our primary goal is to confirm safety, but we will also assess whether treatment improves chondrocyte viability and decreases synovial inflammation. The intervention that will be utilized has proven to be effective using vitro and in vivo models. The study team will assess safety and begin to evaluate efficacy of amobarbital/Gel-One in patients having sustained tibial pilon fractures. The study team will use advanced imaging-based methods we have developed to characterize how joints subjected to varying levels of fracture severity and residual elevated contact stress respond in treated and control groups.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Terminated

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

This is a small-scale proof-of concept clinical trial of amobarbital as a treatment to prevent post-traumatic osteoarthritis in fractured ankle joints. The study is a double blind, prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, stepwise trial. Amobarbital will be delivered to ankle joints in solution with hyaluronic acid (HA) as a vehicle. Amobarbital/HA injections (active dose) will be compared to HA alone (placebo dose). Our primary goal is to confirm safety, but we will also assess whether treatment improves chondrocyte viability and decreases synovial inflammation. The intervention that will be utilized has proven to be effective using vitro and in vivo models. The study team will assess safety and begin to evaluate efficacy of amobarbital/Gel-One in patients having sustained tibial pilon fractures. The study team will use advanced imaging-based methods we have developed to characterize how joints subjected to varying levels of fracture severity and residual elevated contact stress respond in treated and control groups.

Phase I:6 subjects will be treated with a single dose open label, and safety measures will be assessed.

Phase II: Once initial safety is confirmed, 20 amobarbital:10 control subjects will be treated with the single dose at the initial operation.

Assuming continued safety, an additional 20 amobarbital:10 control subjects will be treated with two doses and evaluated. The second dose of 2.5 mM amobarbital will be administered during the second operation.

Subjects will participate in the following procedures:

SOC surgical intervention Randomization to Amobarbital/Gel-One arm or control arm X-rays CT scans Blood and urine Questionnaires

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
5

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Phase 2
  • Phase 1

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Iowa
      • Iowa City, Iowa, United States, 52240
        • University of Iowa

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 60 years (Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Age 18-60 years
  • Acute closed or type 1 open ankle fractures (classified as OTA/AO 43 B 1-3 and 43 C 1- 3 or classified as 42 B and C fractures with 25% talar displacement and one of the following; syndesmosis injury or medial malleolar fracture at or above the shoulder) (Marsh et al., 2007)) without operative ipsilateral extremity trauma
  • Posterior malleolar and supination adduction rotational fractures that have an articular fracture line across the articular surface of the distal tibia. Posterior malleolar fractures should affect 25% of the articular surface or greater.
  • Fractures must have initial treatment within 72 hours of injury including initial injection of amobarbital or placebo.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Diabetes
  • Pregnant or nursing mothers and individuals with child-bearing potential that are not using birth control methods with >99% efficacy.
  • Allergy to poultry products or cinnamon
  • Previous injuries to the ankle
  • High grade open wounds
  • Pre-existing immunologic or hematologic diseases
  • Pre-existing ankle arthritis
  • Ipsilateral fractures
  • Associated injuries that preclude standard rehabilitation
  • Pre-existing dysfunction of the kidneys, liver, blood, immune system, endocrine system (excluding diabetes)
  • Serum creatinine >/= 1.4 mg/dl; BUN > 30 mg/dl; ALT >/= 60 IU/L in males and >/= 50 IU/L in females; AST >/= 45 IU/L in males and > 40 IU/L in females; bilirubin > 1.3 mg/dL; platelets </= 50,000/ul; glucose > 200 mg/dL

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Sequential Assignment
  • Masking: Triple

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Phase I single amobarbital/Gel-One dose
Phase I: An open label study of 3 patients will be done. If no dose limiting toxic (DLT) side effects occur, then an additional 3 patients will be done. If no DLT events occur, the study will proceed to Phase II.
Drug: amobarbital/Gel-One (one dose)
One dose of amobarbital/Gel-One during the initial surgical intervention
Active Comparator: Phase IIa Part 1 amobarbital/Gel-One dose
20 subjects will be randomized to amobarbital/Gel-One single dose.
Drug: amobarbital/Gel-One (one dose)
One dose of amobarbital/Gel-One during the initial surgical intervention
Placebo Comparator: Phase IIa Part 1 Placebo
10 subjects will be randomized to amobarbital/Gel-One single dose.
Drug: Placebo (single dose)
One dose of placebo during the initial surgical intervention
Active Comparator: Phase IIa Part 2 amobarbital/Gel-One dose
20 subjects will be randomized to one dose of amobarbital/Gel-One during the initial surgical intervention. A second dose will be administered during the second surgical intervention.
Drug: amobarbital/Gel-One (two doses)
One dose of amobarbital/Gel-One during the initial surgical intervention. A second dose will be administered during the second surgical intervention.
Placebo Comparator: Phase IIa Part 2 placebo
20 subjects will be randomized to one dose of placebo during the initial surgical intervention. A second dose will be administered during the second surgical intervention.
Drug: Placebo (two doses)
One dose of placebo during the initial surgical intervention. A second dose will be administered during the second surgical intervention.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Number of Participants With Systemic Adverse Events Defined as Abnormal Laboratory Values and Number Where Amobarbital is Detected Systemically
Time Frame: Pre-op baseline on the day before external fixation surgery (within 24 hours of injury), immediately post-op, and at 1, 2, and 4 days post-op. At the time of internal fixation (3-21 days after external fixation) and at 1, 2, and 4 days post-op.]

Safety Measures: CBC and standard clinical chemistry assays to quantify circulating, ALT, AST, Bilirubin, Creatinine, and BUN and the measurement of urine protein content will be evaluated and the number of participants with clinically significant abnormal laboratory values will be determined.

Presence of amobarbital will be tested in blood and urine samples and the number of subjects it is detected in will be reported.
Pre-op baseline on the day before external fixation surgery (within 24 hours of injury), immediately post-op, and at 1, 2, and 4 days post-op. At the time of internal fixation (3-21 days after external fixation) and at 1, 2, and 4 days post-op.]
Determine the Number of Participants With a Change of Local Toxicity in Tissues. (Outcome Discontinued)
Time Frame: Pre-op baseline on the day before external fixation surgery (within 24 hours of injury), immediately post-op, and at 1, 2, and 4 days post-op. At the time of internal fixation (3-21 days after external fixation) and at 1, 2, and 4 days post-op.

Local toxicity will be determined by examining the osteochondral fragments obtained during the internal fixation surgery for cartilage and synovial histological changes.

This outcome was discontinued. Samples were not taken and this measurement was not completed.
Pre-op baseline on the day before external fixation surgery (within 24 hours of injury), immediately post-op, and at 1, 2, and 4 days post-op. At the time of internal fixation (3-21 days after external fixation) and at 1, 2, and 4 days post-op.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Patient Reported Outcome Measurement Information Systems (PROMIS) - Pain Interference
Time Frame: 3, 6, 12, and 24 months
Pain Interference scale. Higher scores indicate greater pain interference (worse score). Result is reported as a T-score, with the population norm at 50 and a standard deviation of 10.
3, 6, 12, and 24 months
Patient Reported Outcome Measurement Information Systems (PROMIS) Physical Function
Time Frame: 3, 6, 12 and 24 month follow-up visit
Physical Function - T-score - mean of 50 and a standard deviation (SD) of 10. Therefore a person with a T-score of 40 is one SD below the mean. Higher is better.
3, 6, 12 and 24 month follow-up visit
Patient Reported Outcome Measurement Information Systems (PROMIS) Global Health Questionnaires - Mental Health and Physical Health Scores
Time Frame: 6, 12 and 24 month follow-up
Global Health - T-score - mean of 50 and a standard deviation (SD) of 10. Therefore a person with a T-score of 40 is one SD below the mean. Higher is better.
6, 12 and 24 month follow-up
American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) Score.
Time Frame: 6,12 and 24 month follow-up
0-100 point scale with 100 perfect ankle function
6,12 and 24 month follow-up
Foot and Ankle Disability Index (FADI). ADL and Sports Scores
Time Frame: 6, 12 and 24 month follow-up
Description: Results are reported on a percentage scale with 100% perfect (higher is better)
6, 12 and 24 month follow-up
CT-based Fracture Energy
Time Frame: calculated at 6 month follow-up
Fracture energy is measured in Joules. It is from CT data and measured computationally. It is a continuous measure - Higher Joules = more energy = worse fracture
calculated at 6 month follow-up
CT-based Contact Stress
Time Frame: 6, 12 and 24 month follow-up

Vertical CT scan of ankle are segmented and analyzed using finite element analysis. Results are expressed as Contract Stress Exposure (MPa) across areas.

Scans were completed in 4 participants at baseline, 4 participants at 6 month visit, 1 participant at month 12 and 1 participant at month 24.

Contact stress measurements were not completed on any scans and are not avaialble.
6, 12 and 24 month follow-up
CT-based Joint Space Width
Time Frame: Month 0, 6, 12
Vertical CT scan of ankle used to measure Joint Space Width at several locations to measure distance to calculate the mean tibiotalar joint space (mm).
Month 0, 6, 12

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
J L Marsh

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
United States Department of Defense

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
July 20, 2022

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
December 1, 2023

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
May 1, 2025

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
June 23, 2020

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
October 14, 2020

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
October 19, 2020

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
July 6, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
June 8, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
September 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 201911366

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

YES

IPD Plan Description

De-identified radiographic and clinical data will be shared.

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

Yes

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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