Request for Funding
Medical Student Research Fellowship for Summer 2011

All descriptions must contain enough detail to permit an assessment of the problem that is to be addressed and the methodologies that are to be employed. Please be careful to outline the role that the student will play in the project that is described. Please ensure that all relevant approval numbers (IRB, IACUC) are provided.

Mentor:  Dr. Adam Starr      
Department:  Ortho
Room number:  G8
Mail Code:     8883
Phone number: 214.648.6428  fax - 3008
E-mail:  adam.starr@utsouthwestern.edu
Project title:    A Retrospective Analysis of the outcomes of open ankle fractures treated with primary ORIF versus external fixation

Human subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable):       082009-036
Animal subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable):      

Project Type
Patient-based

Brief Description of Project:

A literature search was done regarding the primary treatment of open ankle fractures.  There is no literature to support either primary open reduction internal fixation or external fixation with delayed open reduction internal fixation.  The purpose of this study is to retrospectively collect data on patients identified through the trauma registry database who have been seen at Parkland with open ankle fractures.  By collecting data on well known factors that influence fracture healing and the risk of infection in fractures we hope to identify a method that reduces infection rates and optimizes patient outcome.
The role of the study will be to assist in the collection of data, organization of data, statistical analysis, manuscript composition and editing.  The student is expected to assist in the completion of data collection by the end of the summer, as this will be submitted for publication in the early fall.

Due to the lack of evidence in this area, and the increasing number of open fractures, particularly in diabetics, literature suggesting the optimal method of fixation for open ankle fractures is likely to be accepted for publication.  At Parkland, we see a high volume of open ankle fractures and will likely have the largest collection of data in the country to date.

Previous Research Activities or Publications with Medical Students:
Many and various; Please see PubMed