Simple Decompression Versus Anterior Transposition of the Ulnar Nerve

NCT ID: NCT01051869

Last Updated: 2020-04-24

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

Get a concise snapshot of the trial, including recruitment status, study phase, enrollment targets, and key timeline milestones.

Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

56 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2010-09-30

Study Completion Date

2019-09-30

Brief Summary

Review the sponsor-provided synopsis that highlights what the study is about and why it is being conducted.

Both simple decompression and anterior transposition of the elbow nerve (ulnar nerve) for acute displaced fractures of the elbow (distal humerus) treated with plate fixation are currently used by surgeons. We want to examine which treatment will overall give better results in regards to arm function and residual pain.

Detailed Description

Dive into the extended narrative that explains the scientific background, objectives, and procedures in greater depth.

Conditions

See the medical conditions and disease areas that this research is targeting or investigating.

Humeral Fractures Ulnar Nerve Compression

Study Design

Understand how the trial is structured, including allocation methods, masking strategies, primary purpose, and other design elements.

Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

Review each arm or cohort in the study, along with the interventions and objectives associated with them.

simple decompression

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Simple decompression

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Fracture fixation will be performed through a posterior approach, as this provides excellent visualization of the distal fragments. A triceps split will be used to expose the distal humerus. A midline incision will be made from proximally to distal onto the shaft of the ulna. Equal portions of the triceps muscle will be reflected medially and laterally, with use of sharp dissection to remove the triceps insertion from the olecranon. The ulnar nerve will be identified and protected proximal and distal to the medial epicondyle. Fracture fixation will be performed after anatomic reduction using standard fixation techniques and plate fixation on both the medial and lateral column.

In the simple ulnar nerve decompression group, no further treatment of the ulnar nerve will be undertaken.

anterior subcutaneous transposition

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

anterior subcutaneous transposition

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

In the anterior transposition of the ulnar nerve group, the ulnar nerve will be placed subcutaneously anterior to the medial epicondyle free from any pressure.

Interventions

Learn about the drugs, procedures, or behavioral strategies being tested and how they are applied within this trial.

Simple decompression

Fracture fixation will be performed through a posterior approach, as this provides excellent visualization of the distal fragments. A triceps split will be used to expose the distal humerus. A midline incision will be made from proximally to distal onto the shaft of the ulna. Equal portions of the triceps muscle will be reflected medially and laterally, with use of sharp dissection to remove the triceps insertion from the olecranon. The ulnar nerve will be identified and protected proximal and distal to the medial epicondyle. Fracture fixation will be performed after anatomic reduction using standard fixation techniques and plate fixation on both the medial and lateral column.

In the simple ulnar nerve decompression group, no further treatment of the ulnar nerve will be undertaken.

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

anterior subcutaneous transposition

In the anterior transposition of the ulnar nerve group, the ulnar nerve will be placed subcutaneously anterior to the medial epicondyle free from any pressure.

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Eligibility Criteria

Check the participation requirements, including inclusion and exclusion rules, age limits, and whether healthy volunteers are accepted.

Inclusion Criteria

* Men or women aged 16 to 60 years of age
* Displaced, distal humerus fracture (OTA 13A or 13C) as seen in radiographs
* Fractures ≤ 28 days post injury
* Closed fractures
* No history of previous ulnar neuropathy or elbow pathology
* Provisin of informed consent

Exclusion Criteria

* Vascular injury
* History of previous ulnar neuropathy or elbow pathology
* Fractures more than 28 days post-injury
* Limited life expectancy due to significant medical co-morbidity or medical contraindication to surgery
* Inability to comply with rehabilitation or form completion
* Likely problems, in the judgement of the investigators, with maintaining follow-up (i.e. patients with no fixed address, patients not mentally competent to give consent, etc.)
Minimum Eligible Age

16 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

60 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

Meet the organizations funding or collaborating on the study and learn about their roles.

Unity Health Toronto

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

Identify the individual or organization who holds primary responsibility for the study information submitted to regulators.

Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

Learn about the lead researchers overseeing the trial and their institutional affiliations.

Emil H Schemitsch, MD, FRCS(C)

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Unity Health Toronto

Locations

Explore where the study is taking place and check the recruitment status at each participating site.

St. Michael's Hospital

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Site Status

Countries

Review the countries where the study has at least one active or historical site.

Canada

Other Identifiers

Review additional registry numbers or institutional identifiers associated with this trial.

Ulnar Nerve 06-Jan-10

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

More Related Trials

Additional clinical trials that may be relevant based on similarity analysis.