Inova’s orthopedic trauma team participates in a landmark trial on infection prevention with a significant decrease in surgical site infection rates

Fairfax, VA, February 13, 2024 — The orthopedic trauma team at Inova Fairfax Hospital participated in a landmark multicenter trial on infection prevention in surgery, the results of which were recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Conducted at Inova along with 24 additional hospitals in the United States and Canada the study of 6,785 patients with closed pelvis and extremity fractures found a significant decrease in surgical site infection rate with Duraprep (2.4%) compared to Chloraprep (3.3%). 

This equates to potential infection prevention in almost one out of every 100 patients and has enormous implications, given that over 1 million people undergo extremity fracture surgery annually in the U.S. Greg Gaski, MD, co-author and site co-principal investigator at Inova, said, “Surgical site infection leads to poor patient outcomes and is associated with enormous healthcare costs to both the patient and our healthcare system. We are constantly striving to find infection prevention methods, and this study will positively impact many patients we treat at Inova.”

Robert Hymes, MD, co-author and site co-principal investigator at Inova, remarked, “This is a landmark study that will truly transform how we deliver fracture care. This study was rigorously designed and executed, and we are proud to represent Inova in this collaborative research effort.” 

In addition to the primary outcome of this study that directly affects patients at Inova, it is important to note that Duraprep, the superior iodine-based prep solution, is significantly less expensive. Jeff Schulman, MD, orthopedic trauma surgeon at Inova, noted, “As a result of this study and what hospitals can now implement, we can expect annual healthcare savings in the millions, with cost-saving initiatives already being put into place at Inova.” 

Inova’s orthopedic trauma team is immensely grateful to our teams that participated from the Inova Fairfax Medical Campus for helping to make this study possible, as well as the over 500 patients from Northern Virginia who participated in the study. This impactful investigation is an example of how the orthopedic trauma team at Inova is transforming care and leading the way in evidence-based medicine.

Inova’s orthopedic trauma research program is currently enrolling patients in over ten national clinical trials focused on 1) infection prevention, 2) accelerating recovery following traumatic injury, 3) reducing pain after fracture surgery and 4) precision medicine in orthopedic trauma.

For additional information or questions on how to support Inova’s orthopedic trauma research mission, email Dr. Greg Gaski, Director of Research for the orthopedic trauma surgery division at Inova, at Greg.Gaski@Inova.org.

About Inova

We are Inova, Northern Virginia and the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area’s leading nonprofit healthcare provider. With expertise and compassion, we partner with our patients to help them stay healthy. We treat illness, heal injury and look at a patient’s whole health to help them flourish.​ Through our expansive network of hospitals, primary and specialty care practices, emergency and urgent care centers and outpatient services, Inova cares for more than one million patients annually, delivering the best clinical care and a seamless experience. Consistently ranked and recognized as a national healthcare leader in safety, quality and patient experience, Inova’s world-class care is made possible by the strength and breadth of our network, our 22,000 team members, our technology and our innovation. Inova is home to Northern Virginia’s only Level 1 Trauma Center and Level 4 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and provides high-quality healthcare to every person in every community we are privileged to serve – regardless of ability to pay – every day of their life. More information about Inova can be found at www.inova.org.