Grant: Randomized Controlled Trials: Mentoring

Orthopaedic (bone and joint) injuries are common in Canada and throughout the world. In Canada, 73% of patients hospitalized for a major injury have an orthopaedic injury. Up to 40 million people worldwide are permanently disabled as a result of trauma each year, and many more are temporarily disabled. Research is needed to improve patient care and treatment outcomes in these patients. Clinical trials play a vital role in improving patient care and treatment outcomes. Performing clinical trials in surgical disciplines is challenging. Specialized training is necessary to learn to perform successful clinical trials, and few orthopaedic surgeons have this training. The funding from this grant will pair a new researcher, Dr. Slobogean, with a researcher who is highly experienced in performing pivotal clinical trials, Dr. Bhandari. Both Dr. Slobogean and Dr. Bhandari are orthopaedic surgeons whose clinical and research interests center around improving the the care and outcomes of patients with bone and joint injuries. Dr. Slobogean will be integrated into Dr. Bhandari's team and will have the opportunity to work on several of his ongoing clinical trials. Under the mentorship of Dr. Bhandari, Dr. Slobogean will also design and implement a new trial related to the treatment of hip fractures in younger adults (ages 18-60) and the effect of vitamin D on complications and quality of life related to these fractures. Hip fractures in younger adults are challenging to treat, and despite the use of modern surgical techniques, 25% of these patients will experience a major fracture healing complication. Improving these patients' outcomes has the potential to make a significant difference in the lives of these patients. The experience gained by Dr. Slobogean in designing and implementing this trial will give him the necessary skills to carry out large clinical trials in the future that will have the potential to improve bone and joint injury care throughout the world.