NCT02750072

Brief Summary

This study will investigate the incidence and severity of anterior knee pain comparing two different approaches to tibial nail fixation; Infrapatellar versus percutaneous semi-extended suprapatellar incisions. Half the patients will be randomized to the gold standard infrapatellar approach with the other half being randomized to treatment with the percutaneous semi-extended suprapatellar approach.

Trial Health

90
On Track

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
248

participants targeted

Target at P75+ for not_applicable

Timeline
Completed

Started Sep 2016

Longer than P75 for not_applicable

Geographic Reach
2 countries

6 active sites

Status
completed

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

April 18, 2016

Completed
7 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

April 25, 2016

Completed
5 months until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

September 13, 2016

Completed
6.7 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

May 31, 2023

Completed
4 months until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

October 12, 2023

Completed
Last Updated

January 30, 2024

Status Verified

September 1, 2023

Enrollment Period

6.7 years

First QC Date

April 18, 2016

Last Update Submit

January 26, 2024

Conditions

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

  • VAS (visual analog scale) for pain on kneeling/ability to knee

    Participants assessment of their degree/level of pain on kneeling after performing the AKT (Aberdeen Kneeling Weight-Distribution Test) on a 10 cm visual analog scale

    12 months post treatment

Secondary Outcomes (8)

  • AKT (Aberdeen Kneeling Weight-Distribution Test)

    4, 6, 12 and 24 months post treatment

  • AST (Aberdeen Standing Weight-Distribution Test)

    4, 6, 12 and 24 months post treatment

  • VAS (Visual Analog Scale) at rest, with walking and descending stairs

    4, 6, 12 and 24 months post treatment

  • Lysholm Knee Scoring Scale

    4, 6, 12 and 24 months post treatment

  • PKPM (Photographic knee pain map)

    4, 6,12 and 24 months post treatment

  • +3 more secondary outcomes

Study Arms (2)

Infrapatellar approach

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Infrapatellar approach using the surgeon's incision of choice (i.e., patellar tendon split, tendon retraction medial, tendon retraction lateral).

Procedure: Infrapatellar Approach

Semi-extended suprapatellar approach

EXPERIMENTAL

Semi-extended suprapatellar approach using quadriceps split combined with purpose designed suprapatellar percutaneous instrumentation (patellofemoral protection sleeve).

Procedure: Suprapatellar Approach

Interventions

Infrapatellar approach using the surgeon's incision of choice (i.e. patellar tendon split, tendon retraction medial, tendon retraction lateral)

Infrapatellar approach

Semi-extended suprapatellar approach using quadriceps split combined with purpose designed percutaneous instrumentation

Semi-extended suprapatellar approach

Eligibility Criteria

Age18 Years - 65 Years
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • all extra-articular tibial fractures
  • simple distal tibial intra-articular fractures amenable to IMN
  • open and closed fractures
  • bilateral tibiae
  • willing and able to consent, follow protocol and attend follow-up visits
  • able to read and understand English or have interpreter available

You may not qualify if:

  • patients with contralateral femur and/or hip fracture requiring retrograde IMN
  • patients with contralateral knee injuries that would impair their ability to kneel during the follow-up period
  • associated knee injury
  • previous symptomatic knee pathology
  • ipsilateral injuries to the same limb that would interfere with rehab or outcome
  • neurovascular injuries at the level of the knee requiring surgery
  • open or closed fractures \> 14 days (times of injury to OR)
  • non unions
  • pathologic fractures
  • periprosthetic fractures
  • spinal injury
  • non-ambulatory patients
  • incarceration
  • limited life expectancy due to significant medical co-morbidities or medical contra-indication to surgery (pregnancy)
  • likely problems, in the judgment of the investigators, with maintaining follow-up

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (6)

University of Alberta Hospital

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Location

Royal Columbian Hospital / Fraser Health Authority

New Westminster, British Columbia, V3L 3W7, Canada

Location

Hamilton Health Sciences

Hamilton, Ontario, L8L 8E7, Canada

Location

The Ottawa Hospital

Ottawa, Ontario, K1Y 4E9, Canada

Location

St. Michael's Hospital

Toronto, Ontario, M5C 1R6, Canada

Location

Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron

Barcelona, 08035, Spain

Location

Related Publications (26)

  • Karachalios T, Babis G, Tsarouchas J, Sapkas G, Pantazopoulos T. The clinical performance of a small diameter tibial nailing system with a mechanical distal aiming device. Injury. 2000 Jul;31(6):451-9. doi: 10.1016/s0020-1383(00)00024-3.

    PMID: 10831746BACKGROUND
  • Toivanen JA, Vaisto O, Kannus P, Latvala K, Honkonen SE, Jarvinen MJ. Anterior knee pain after intramedullary nailing of fractures of the tibial shaft. A prospective, randomized study comparing two different nail-insertion techniques. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2002 Apr;84(4):580-5. doi: 10.2106/00004623-200204000-00011.

    PMID: 11940618BACKGROUND
  • Katsoulis E, Court-Brown C, Giannoudis PV. Incidence and aetiology of anterior knee pain after intramedullary nailing of the femur and tibia. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 2006 May;88(5):576-80. doi: 10.1302/0301-620X.88B5.16875. No abstract available.

    PMID: 16645100BACKGROUND
  • Weninger P, Schultz A, Traxler H, Firbas W, Hertz H. Anatomical assessment of the Hoffa fat pad during insertion of a tibial intramedullary nail--comparison of three surgical approaches. J Trauma. 2009 Apr;66(4):1140-5. doi: 10.1097/TA.0b013e318169cd4d.

    PMID: 19359927BACKGROUND
  • Koval KJ, Clapper MF, Brumback RJ, Ellison PS Jr, Poka A, Bathon GH, Burgess AR. Complications of reamed intramedullary nailing of the tibia. J Orthop Trauma. 1991;5(2):184-9. doi: 10.1097/00005131-199105020-00011.

    PMID: 1650401BACKGROUND
  • Ryan SP, Steen B, Tornetta P 3rd. Semi-extended nailing of metaphyseal tibia fractures: alignment and incidence of postoperative knee pain. J Orthop Trauma. 2014 May;28(5):263-9. doi: 10.1097/BOT.0000000000000083.

    PMID: 24751605BACKGROUND
  • Jones M, Parry M, Whitehouse M, Mitchell S. Radiologic outcome and patient-reported function after intramedullary nailing: a comparison of the retropatellar and infrapatellar approach. J Orthop Trauma. 2014 May;28(5):256-62. doi: 10.1097/BOT.0000000000000070.

    PMID: 24464093BACKGROUND
  • Vaisto O, Toivanen J, Paakkala T, Jarvela T, Kannus P, Jarvinen M. Anterior knee pain after intramedullary nailing of a tibial shaft fracture: an ultrasound study of the patellar tendons of 36 patients. J Orthop Trauma. 2005 May-Jun;19(5):311-6.

    PMID: 15891539BACKGROUND
  • Leliveld MS, Verhofstad MH. Injury to the infrapatellar branch of the saphenous nerve, a possible cause for anterior knee pain after tibial nailing? Injury. 2012 Jun;43(6):779-83. doi: 10.1016/j.injury.2011.09.002. Epub 2011 Oct 1.

    PMID: 21962297BACKGROUND
  • Cartwright-Terry M, Snow M, Nalwad H. The severity and prediction of anterior knee pain post tibial nail insertion. J Orthop Trauma. 2007 Jul;21(6):381-5. doi: 10.1097/BOT.0b013e3180caa138.

    PMID: 17620996BACKGROUND
  • Vaisto O, Toivanen J, Kannus P, Jarvinen M. Anterior knee pain after intramedullary nailing of fractures of the tibial shaft: an eight-year follow-up of a prospective, randomized study comparing two different nail-insertion techniques. J Trauma. 2008 Jun;64(6):1511-6. doi: 10.1097/TA.0b013e318031cd27.

    PMID: 18545115BACKGROUND
  • Tornetta P 3rd, Collins E. Semiextended position of intramedullary nailing of the proximal tibia. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1996 Jul;(328):185-9. doi: 10.1097/00003086-199607000-00029.

    PMID: 8653954BACKGROUND
  • Sanders RW, DiPasquale TG, Jordan CJ, Arrington JA, Sagi HC. Semiextended intramedullary nailing of the tibia using a suprapatellar approach: radiographic results and clinical outcomes at a minimum of 12 months follow-up. J Orthop Trauma. 2014 Aug;28 Suppl 8:S29-39. doi: 10.1097/01.bot.0000452787.80923.ee.

    PMID: 25046413BACKGROUND
  • Morandi M, Banka T, Gaiarsa GP, Guthrie ST, Khalil J, Hoegler J, Lindeque BG. Intramedullary nailing of tibial fractures: review of surgical techniques and description of a percutaneous lateral suprapatellar approach. Orthopedics. 2010 Mar;33(3):172-9. doi: 10.3928/01477447-20100129-22. No abstract available.

    PMID: 20205366BACKGROUND
  • Kubiak EN, Widmer BJ, Horwitz DS. Extra-articular technique for semiextended tibial nailing. J Orthop Trauma. 2010 Nov;24(11):704-8. doi: 10.1097/BOT.0b013e3181d5d9f4.

    PMID: 20881632BACKGROUND
  • Court-Brown CM, Gustilo T, Shaw AD. Knee pain after intramedullary tibial nailing: its incidence, etiology, and outcome. J Orthop Trauma. 1997 Feb-Mar;11(2):103-5. doi: 10.1097/00005131-199702000-00006.

    PMID: 9057144BACKGROUND
  • Song SY, Chang HG, Byun JC, Kim TY. Anterior knee pain after tibial intramedullary nailing using a medial paratendinous approach. J Orthop Trauma. 2012 Mar;26(3):172-7. doi: 10.1097/BOT.0b013e3182217fe6.

    PMID: 22068208BACKGROUND
  • Courtney PM, Boniello A, Donegan D, Ahn J, Mehta S. Functional Knee Outcomes in Infrapatellar and Suprapatellar Tibial Nailing: Does Approach Matter? Am J Orthop (Belle Mead NJ). 2015 Dec;44(12):E513-6.

    PMID: 26665254BACKGROUND
  • Garratt AM, Brealey S, Gillespie WJ; DAMASK Trial Team. Patient-assessed health instruments for the knee: a structured review. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2004 Nov;43(11):1414-23. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/keh362. Epub 2004 Aug 17.

    PMID: 15316121BACKGROUND
  • Lysholm J, Gillquist J. Evaluation of knee ligament surgery results with special emphasis on use of a scoring scale. Am J Sports Med. 1982 May-Jun;10(3):150-4. doi: 10.1177/036354658201000306.

    PMID: 6896798BACKGROUND
  • Tegner Y, Lysholm J. Rating systems in the evaluation of knee ligament injuries. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1985 Sep;(198):43-9.

    PMID: 4028566BACKGROUND
  • Elson DW, Jones S, Caplan N, Stewart S, St Clair Gibson A, Kader DF. The photographic knee pain map: locating knee pain with an instrument developed for diagnostic, communication and research purposes. Knee. 2011 Dec;18(6):417-23. doi: 10.1016/j.knee.2010.08.012. Epub 2010 Sep 17.

    PMID: 20850976BACKGROUND
  • Leighton RK, Trask K. The Canadian Orthopaedic Trauma Society: a model for success in orthopaedic research. Injury. 2009 Nov;40(11):1131-6. doi: 10.1016/j.injury.2008.11.021. Epub 2009 Apr 21.

    PMID: 19386310BACKGROUND
  • Crossley KM, Bennell KL, Cowan SM, Green S. Analysis of outcome measures for persons with patellofemoral pain: which are reliable and valid? Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2004 May;85(5):815-22. doi: 10.1016/s0003-9993(03)00613-0.

    PMID: 15129407BACKGROUND
  • Mills K, Blanch P, Vicenzino B. Identifying clinically meaningful tools for measuring comfort perception of footwear. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2010 Oct;42(10):1966-71. doi: 10.1249/MSS.0b013e3181dbacc8.

    PMID: 20216463BACKGROUND
  • Hinman RS, McCrory P, Pirotta M, Relf I, Forbes A, Crossley KM, Williamson E, Kyriakides M, Novy K, Metcalf BR, Harris A, Reddy P, Conaghan PG, Bennell KL. Acupuncture for chronic knee pain: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA. 2014 Oct 1;312(13):1313-22. doi: 10.1001/jama.2014.12660.

    PMID: 25268438BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Tibial FracturesPatellofemoral Pain Syndrome

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Fractures, BoneWounds and InjuriesLeg InjuriesJoint DiseasesMusculoskeletal Diseases

Study Officials

  • Darius G Viskontas, MD, FRCSC

    Royal Columbian Hospital / Fraser Health Authority

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
  • Trevor B Stone, MD, FRCSC

    Royal Columbian Hospital / Fraser Health Authority

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
  • Alan Johnstone, Professor

    Aberdeen Royal Infirmary

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
SINGLE
Who Masked
OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
Purpose
TREATMENT
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Sponsor Type
NETWORK
Responsible Party
SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

April 18, 2016

First Posted

April 25, 2016

Study Start

September 13, 2016

Primary Completion

May 31, 2023

Study Completion

October 12, 2023

Last Updated

January 30, 2024

Record last verified: 2023-09

Data Sharing

IPD Sharing
Will not share

Locations