Transcutaneous Oxygen as a Predictor of Wound Healing Complications in Preoperatively Radiated Soft Tissue Sarcoma

July 19, 2021 updated by: Lukas Nystrom, MD, The Cleveland Clinic
Wound complications after sarcoma resection are frequent and potentially devastating problem. The burden of surgical wound complications in the lower extremity after preoperative external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) for soft tissue sarcoma is estimated at 43%. A noninvasive method of predicting complications would be extremely beneficial. The aim of this study is to evaluate the relationship between preoperative skin oxygenation and wound outcomes in a multi-center prospective analysis. This information could lead to a change in practice regarding surgical timing and adjunctive interventions to improve wound healing outcomes.

Study Overview

Detailed Description

It is estimated that there are 11,400 new cases of soft tissue sarcoma diagnosed in the United States annually. Most high-grade sarcomas, and other selected low or intermediate grade sarcomas, are treated with a limb salvage surgical resection in conjunction with external beam radiation to optimize local control. The current preference of most practicing orthopaedic/surgical oncologists and radiation oncologists is to implement the radiation treatments prior to surgery to diminish the total radiation dose and field size, thereby optimizing long-term functional results of the salvaged limb. While there are clear advantages of preoperative radiation, there are well-demonstrated negative consequences with regard to healing of the surgical wound. Currently there are no reliable clinical criteria to aid physicians in determining an individual patient's risk of developing a postoperative wound complication. This fact, combined with the rarity of the sarcoma diagnosis, has prevented improvement in wound outcomes in sarcoma patients.

This project is designed to close this critical gap in knowledge. The investigators propose utilizing a preoperative measurement of transcutaneous oxygen (Tc02) at the proposed incision to classify patients into high- and low-risk categories for development of wound complications after resection. Measurement of preoperative TcO2 represents a novel application of a simple, noninvasive method by which to assess skin oxygenation. Given the results of an already completed pilot investigation (Nystrom 2016), the investigators believe that this important clinical problem is well suited for a prospective, multi-disciplinary, multi-institutional investigation.

A successful project would result in an enhanced ability to identify wounds at risk prior to surgery and allow for additional investigation into perioperative interventions (delay of surgery until recovery of oxygenation, increasing suture duration, judicious use of muscle flaps and skin grafts, postoperative hyperbaric oxygen, or treatment with incisional wound vacuum-assisted closure) that may mitigate this significant adverse outcome.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Actual)

39

Contacts and Locations

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

Study Locations

    • Florida
      • Gainesville, Florida, United States, 32611
        • University of Florida
    • Iowa
      • Iowa City, Iowa, United States, 52242
        • University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics
    • Ohio
      • Cleveland, Ohio, United States, 44195
        • Cleveland Clinic
    • Oklahoma
      • Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States, 73104
        • University of Oklahoma

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

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Adult patients with soft tissue sarcoma of the lower extremity with plan for treatment by preoperative radiation followed by limb sparing surgical resection.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • age > 18
  • biopsy proven soft tissue sarcoma of the lower extremity (pelvic area and below)
  • plan for preoperative radiation and limb sparing resection

Exclusion Criteria:

  • upper extremity sarcoma
  • recurrent soft tissue sarcoma
  • prior surgery in the area of the sarcoma
  • prior radiation in the area of the sarcoma
  • need for immediate skin graft or flap for coverage
  • pregnant patients
  • patients unwilling to have surgery or radiation

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

  • Observational Models: Cohort
  • Time Perspectives: Prospective

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Wound healing
Time Frame: 120 days
Your wound will be assessed clinically for evidence of healing or any wound complication (ie. infection, dehiscence, seroma).
120 days

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Lukas M Nystrom, MD, The Cleveland Clinic

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

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

July 1, 2016

Primary Completion (Actual)

September 30, 2020

Study Completion (Actual)

January 15, 2021

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

September 7, 2016

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 7, 2016

First Posted (Estimate)

September 13, 2016

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

July 20, 2021

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 19, 2021

Last Verified

July 1, 2021

More Information

Terms related to this study

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 207638

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

Yes

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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