COPET

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    A Multicentre Cohort Study of Pain in Extremity Trauma (COPET)

  • IRAS ID

    211627

  • Contact name

    Shehan Hettiaratchy

  • Contact email

    shehan.hettiaratchy@imperial.nhs.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    Imperial College NHS Trust

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    1 years, 6 months, 1 days

  • Research summary

    This study aims to describe the acute pain and long term (chronic) pain experienced by patients suffering lower limb injuries (of the tibia). We also aim to describe the population who sustain lower limb injuries. Pain after serious injury is inevitable but has received little research attention with most studies focussing on reparative surgical techniques (1) or functional outcomes (2). However pain has been highlighted as an issue by our patients and the Major Trauma Patients' and Carers' group.

    There are approximately 4000 of these injuries in the UK annually. Development of long-term (chronic) pain can cause loss of physical ability with associated costs ot the individuals and society; it has been estimated that managing chronic pain costs between £8,000-18,000 per patient per year.

    Adult patients, who are able to provide consent, will be recruited from NHS major trauma centres in England. The participants involvement in the study will last for 1 year from recruitment. Participants will receive all appropriate standard care and additionally, as part of the study, will undergo simple neuropathic pain assessments and complete pain surveys and assessments at regular intervals through the year.

    We intend this study to pave the way to future work aimed at reducing the number of patients experiencing chronic pain.

    References:
    1. Saddawi-Konefka D, Kim HM & Chung KC. A Systematic Review of Outcomes and Complications of Reconstruction and Amputation for Type IIIB and IIIC Fractures of the Tibia. Plastic and Reconstructive
    Surgery 2008; 122(6): 1796–1805.
    2. Hoogendoorn JM & van der Werken C. Grade III open tibial fractures: Functional outcome and quality
    of life in amputees versus patients with successful reconstruction. Injury, International Journal of Care of the Injured 2001; 32: 329–334.

  • REC name

    London - Fulham Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    17/LO/0811

  • Date of REC Opinion

    26 May 2017

  • REC opinion

    Favourable Opinion