MRFF grant for ECONOF III Trial

The Ultrasound Education Group was successful in securing a Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) grant of $3.68 million for a pragmatic randomised control trial of a focused cardiac ultrasound before surgery to treat femoral neck fractures. The five-year grant will fund a 2000 patient trial incorporating ten centres across Australia.

Professor Colin Royse.

Hip fracture surgery is a major world health care burden that is worsening as the average age increases, causing major suffering to patients and their families. This randomised controlled trial will confirm whether our preliminary studies are correct, which have suggested that an ultrasound of the heart performed before hip fracture surgery results in saving lives and reducing health care costs. Bedside ultrasound results in increased effectiveness of care of these very frail patients.