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Comparison of Bracing With Co-aptation Splinting for the Initial Treatment of Acute Humeral Shaft Fractures: The COBRAS Trials

Comparison of Bracing With Co-aptation Splinting for the Initial Treatment of Acute Humeral Shaft Fractures: The COBRAS Trials

Status
Completed
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT05118087
Enrollment
80
Registered
2021-11-11
Start date
2021-07-20
Completion date
2025-11-01
Last updated
2026-02-27

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Humeral Fractures

Keywords

Sarmiento Brace, Coaptation Splint

Brief summary

The goal of this study is to determine which initial method of immobilization for humeral shaft fractures in the emergency room maximizes patient comfort. The two methods of initial management for humeral shaft fractures are sarmiento bracing (pre-fabricated fracture brace) and coaptation splinting. In this study, the team will compare patient related outcomes and comfort for each method of initial management of humeral shaft fractures. Participant pain, narcotic usage, and function will be tracked over a 2 week period to see which method of immobilization is preferred.

Interventions

PROCEDUREWebril Padded Plaster Splint

Patients in the coaptation splint group will have a webril padded plaster splint that is placed around the humerus. The forearm and wrist are then suspended in a cuff and collar.

PROCEDUREPre-Fabricated Fracture Brace

Patients in the sarmiento group will be given a fitted pre-fabricated fracture brace with a cuff and collar for the forearm. The patients will be educated on brace maintained, tightening, and care during at the time of the ER encounter.

Sponsors

NYU Langone Health
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

1. Presenting to an emergency room or ICARE in the participating centers with an acute humeral shaft fracture 2. Age above 18 and skeletally mature 3. Isolated Injury 4. Treated non-operatively first 2 weeks

Exclusion criteria

1. Open fractures 2. Poly trauma 3. Injuries deemed operative by attending surgeon 4. Patients undergoing treatment for malignancy 5. Prisoners

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Score on Pain Visual Analogue Scale (VAS)Week 1 post-treatmentThe Visual Analog Scale (VAS) is a 10 cm line with anchor statements on the left (no pain) and on the right (extreme pain). The patient is asked to mark their current pain level on the line. The total range of score is 0 (no pain) to 10 (unbearable pain); the higher the pain, the greater the amount of pain.
Number of Tramadol Pills TakenWeek 1 post-treatmentAll patients will be discharged with 28 pills of tramadol 50mg. At week 1 follow-up, number of tramadol pills taken will be reported.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Incidence of cutaneous complicationsWeek 2 post-treatmentCutaneous complications between immediate fracture bracing and coaptation splints in the ER within the first 2 weeks of treatment will be reported
Score on PROMIS - Physical Function - Short Form 10bWeek 1 post-treatmentPROMIS consists of 10 statements/questions that are scored 1-5 each. The total range of score is 10-50; a higher score indicates less difficulty performing an activity.

Countries

United States

Contacts

PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORAbhishek Ganta, MD

NYU Langone Health

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 28, 2026