UAB Department of Orthopaedic Surgery has been selected as a study site for the Major Extremity Trauma and Rehabilitation Consortium (METRC)  investigation “A Prospective Study of Early Mechanical Stabilization and Bleeding in Disruption of the Pelvic Ring” (EMS-BIND),  sponsored by the Department of Defense Peer-Reviewed Orthopaedic Research Program.

The UAB site will be led by Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Associate Professor Clay Spitler, M.D. UAB was selected because of its high volume of pelvic trauma, previous experience with the METRC Consortium, and the institution’s commitment to providing optimal trauma care to the residents of Alabama.

The primary objective of the study is to evaluate the effect of timing of placement of circumferential pelvic compression (CPC) on transfusion rates, resuscitative measures and overall mortality in the treatment of life-threatening pelvic ring injuries. The outcomes of this study may change the way in which first responders, emergency room physicians, as well as orthopaedic and general surgery trauma surgeons approach CPC and the investigators hope to decrease transfusion rates and improve mortality rates by earlier application of CPC, potentially by first responders in the field.

METRC is a multi-center group of military and civilian centers that has many diverse research projects that aim to advance orthopaedic trauma care. Spitler has been involved with several METRC projects and believes that these multi-center collaborative studies will provide answers to research questions that improve trauma care worldwide. The study is scheduled to begin in late summer or early fall.