Orthopaedic Surgery research

The Alfred is a level 1 Trauma Centre and, as such, the department has a strong research interest in orthopaedic trauma.

We contribute to the Victorian Orthopaedic Trauma Outcomes Registry (VOTOR) overseen by Monash University. Collaborations across the participating centres have led to several clinical projects. The department also participates in a number of international, multicentre, randomised, controlled trials (RCTs).

In 2014 we continued our strong collaboration with McMaster University in Canada in three of their international, multicentre RCTs. We continue to recruit into HEALTH (hip fracture evaluation using the alternatives of total hip arthroplasty versus hemi-arthroplasty), which investigates treatment for displaced femoral neck fractures.

We await the adjudication process in FAITH (fixation using alternative implants for the treatment of hip fractures), which looks at what is better for undisplaced femoral neck fractures – a sliding hip screw or three cancellous screws. We await the results from FLOW (fluid lavage of open wounds), which will give us the evidence for the type of irrigant and delivery pressure to use in open fractures.

We are planning to participate in FAITH2, which adds vitamin D versus placebo, and HipATTACK which randomises hip fracture patients to rapid care (within 6 hours) or the standard care pathway, which in our case is on average 13 hours.

VOTOR continues to accrue data with a 12-month follow up rate consistently above 90% and a number of projects across four different research streams currently under way. Our most recent project is examining the effect of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) on fracture healing.

Postgraduate students

1 Masters of Surgery student