NCT04657549

Brief Summary

Tonsil surgery is common in adults with recurrent or chronic tonsillitis. The surgical techniques include either partial or total surgical removal of the palatal tonsils (tonsillotomy, TT, and tonsillectomy, TE, respectively). The aim of this study is to find out, whether tonsil surgery improves the quality of life in these patients and whether the lighter TT is as effective as TE. Our main outcome is the disease-specific Tonsillectomy Outcome Inventory-14 (TOI-14) quality of life questionnaire score at 6 months follow-up.

Trial Health

87
On Track

Trial Health Score

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

Enrollment
147

participants targeted

Target at P75+ for not_applicable

Timeline
Completed

Started Dec 2020

Typical duration for not_applicable

Geographic Reach
1 country

7 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

November 16, 2020

Completed
22 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

December 8, 2020

Completed
Same day until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

December 8, 2020

Completed
2.5 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

June 9, 2023

Completed
Same day until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

June 9, 2023

Completed
Last Updated

June 12, 2023

Status Verified

June 1, 2023

Enrollment Period

2.5 years

First QC Date

November 16, 2020

Last Update Submit

June 9, 2023

Conditions

Keywords

tonsillitistonsillectomytonsillotomytonsil surgery

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

  • Tonsillectomy Outcome Inventory -14 (TOI-14) follow-up score

    TOI-14 is a disease-specific quality of life questionnaire for throat related symptoms in adults. TOI-14 summary scores vary between 0 and 100 with higher values indicating poorer quality of life. Analysis is described in the Detailed Description section.

    At the end of five to six months follow-up

Secondary Outcomes (20)

  • 36-Item short Form Survey (SF-36, RAND-36) follow-up score

    At the end of five to six months follow-up

  • Proportion benefiting

    At the end of five to six months follow-up

  • Days with throat pain

    At the end of five to six months follow-up

  • Days with halitosis

    At the end of five to six months follow-up

  • Days with bleeding

    At the end of five to six months follow-up

  • +15 more secondary outcomes

Study Arms (3)

Tonsillectomy

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Patients will undergo tonsillectomy under general anesthesia within three weeks after enrollment.

Procedure: Tonsillectomy

Tonsillotomy

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Patients will undergo tonsillotomy under general anesthesia within three weeks after enrollment.

Procedure: Tonsillotomy

Watchful waiting

NO INTERVENTION

Patients will be closely monitored for the 5-6 months monitoring period.

Interventions

TonsillectomyPROCEDURE

Tonsillectomy is done by monopolar electrocautery, bipolar scissors or cold instruments. First the mucosa of the anterior palatinal arch is incised and tonsillar capsule identified, then tonsillar tissue is removed along the capsule. Any bleeding is coagulated either with monopolar or bipolar electrocautery.

Also known as: Extracapsular tonsillectomy, ECTE
Tonsillectomy
TonsillotomyPROCEDURE

Tonsillotomy is done using monopolar electrosurgery, bipolar scissors or coblator device. Most of the tonsillar tissue is removed, exceeding the removal behind the line between anterior and posterior palatinal arch so that only thin layer of tonsil tissue is left over the tonsillar capsule.

Also known as: Intracapsular tonsillectomy, ICTE. Subtotal/intracapsular/partial tonsillectomy, SIPT.
Tonsillotomy

Eligibility Criteria

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

You may qualify if:

  • Recurrent tonsillitis episodes:
  • At least 4 episodes in the previous 12 months or at least 3 episodes in 6 months
  • Episodes are disabling, prevent normal functioning and are severe enough for the patient to seek medical attention
  • Episodes are thought to involve the palatine tonsils based on signs found during the episodes (e.g. edema, erythema, exudative tonsillitis, anterior cervical lymphadenitis)
  • No throat cultures or antigen/molecular tests to show infection with group A streptococcus are needed
  • Chronic tonsillitis:
  • Recurrent or chronic throat pain for at least 6 months
  • At least one symptom or sign that indicate that symptoms originate from the palatal tonsils (disturbing tonsil stones, halitosis, anterior cervical lymphadenitis, tonsillar exudates, abnormal tonsillar crypts)
  • Symptomatic treatment has not been effective

You may not qualify if:

  • Age less than 18 years
  • Pregnancy
  • History of peritonsillar abscess
  • Previous illness that make prompt same-day surgery unfeasible
  • No electronic identity verification tools

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (7)

Lapland Central Hospital

Rovaniemi, Lapland, FIN-96400, Finland

Location

Länsi-Pohja Central Hospital

Kemi, FIN-94100, Finland

Location

Keski-Pohjanmaa Central Hospital

Kokkola, FIN-67200, Finland

Location

Oulu University Hospital

Oulu, FIN-90029, Finland

Location

Seinäjoki Central Hospital

Seinäjoki, FIN-60220, Finland

Location

Turun yliopistollinen keskussairaala

Turku, Finland

Location

Vaasan keskussairaala

Vaasa, Finland

Location

Related Publications (3)

  • Laajala A, Autio TJ, Ohtonen P, Alho OP, Koskenkorva TJ. Interpretation of Tonsillectomy Outcome Inventory-14 scores: a prospective matched cohort study. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2020 May;277(5):1499-1505. doi: 10.1007/s00405-020-05832-z. Epub 2020 Feb 14.

    PMID: 32060601BACKGROUND
  • Koskenkorva T, Koivunen P, Laara E, Alho OP. Predictive factors for quality of life after tonsillectomy among adults with recurrent pharyngitis: a prospective cohort study. Clin Otolaryngol. 2014 Aug;39(4):216-23. doi: 10.1111/coa.12263.

    PMID: 24863677BACKGROUND
  • Laajala A, Tokola P, Autio TJ, Koskenkorva T, Tastula M, Ohtonen P, Laara E, Alho OP. Total or partial tonsillar resection (tonsillectomy or tonsillotomy) to change the quality of life for adults with recurrent or chronic tonsillitis: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial. Trials. 2021 Sep 15;22(1):617. doi: 10.1186/s13063-021-05539-4.

    PMID: 34526073BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Tonsillitis

Interventions

Tonsillectomysipuleucel-T

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

PharyngitisRespiratory Tract InfectionsInfectionsPharyngeal DiseasesStomatognathic DiseasesRespiratory Tract DiseasesOtorhinolaryngologic Diseases

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Otorhinolaryngologic Surgical ProceduresSurgical Procedures, Operative

Study Officials

  • Olli-Pekka Alho, MD, PhD

    Oulu University Hospital, University of Oulu

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
  • Aleksi EJ Laajala, MD

    Oulu University Hospital, University of Oulu

    STUDY CHAIR
  • Paulus Tokola, MD

    Oulu University Hospital, University of Oulu

    STUDY CHAIR
  • Timo J Autio, MD, PhD

    Oulu University Hospital

    STUDY CHAIR
  • Timo J Koskenkorva, MD, PhD

    University of Oulu

    STUDY CHAIR
  • Pasi Ohtonen, M. Sc.

    Division of Operative Care, Oulu University Hospital, Finland

    STUDY CHAIR
  • Esa Läärä, PhD.

    Oulu University

    STUDY CHAIR

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
SINGLE
Who Masked
PARTICIPANT
Masking Details
Patients in active arms don't know if they are in tonsillectomy or tonsillotomy group
Purpose
TREATMENT
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
PI Title
Professor, MD

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

November 16, 2020

First Posted

December 8, 2020

Study Start

December 8, 2020

Primary Completion

June 9, 2023

Study Completion

June 9, 2023

Last Updated

June 12, 2023

Record last verified: 2023-06

Data Sharing

IPD Sharing
Will share

Study protocol that includes the Informed Consent Form will be sent to a journal for publication, Statistical analysis Plan will be published later in ClinicalTrials.gov web site. The data generated or analyzed during this study will be available from the corresponding investigator on reasonable request.

Shared Documents
STUDY PROTOCOL, ICF
Time Frame
Study protocol will be sent for publication within 12 months from the beginning of recruiting. Data from the study will be available starting six months after publication.
Access Criteria
The data generated or analyzed during this study will be available from the corresponding investigator on reasonable request.

Locations