Measurement of Mechanical Properties of the Healing Achilles Tendon With or Without Early Weightbearing

NCT ID: NCT01063465

Last Updated: 2010-02-05

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

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Recruitment Status

UNKNOWN

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

35 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2009-02-28

Brief Summary

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The purpose of this study is to measure the mechanical properties of healing Achilles tendons in humans after early controlled weightbearing, compared with a control group in a randomized, single-blinded trial. The mechanical properties are measured using radiostereophotogrammetic x-rays (RSA).

Hypothesis: Early weightbearing improves mechanical properties of the healing Achilles tendon.

Detailed Description

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Patient with an acute Achilles tendon rupture coming to the local emergency room are asked to participate in our study. Patients have to be between 18 and 60 years and they must not have any contraindications for surgical treatment.

Patients who are interested in participating in the study receive oral and in written information about the study of the main investigator of the study (Thorsten Schepull). Patients who then agree to participate in the study are registered for surgery. All patients are operated the same way in local anaesthesia within 5 days after injury. We are going to use a conventional open technique with a dorso-medial approach. Tendon ends are going to be adapted with a resorbable suture and we are going to implant 2 Tantalum beads (size 0.8 mm) in the distal part of the tendon and 2 Tantalum beads with the same size in the proximal part. A short leg cast is going to be applied with the foot in the equinus position.

Randomization to early weightbearing or control group is done postoperatively

Group 1 (control group):

The short leg cast that is going to be applied during operation with the foot in the equinus position is removed after 3.5 weeks and a new cast is applied with the ankle in a neutral position for another 3.5 weeks. The new cast is removed after 3.5 weeks (cast treatment in total 7 weeks). Physiotherapy starts after cast removal, following our previous hospital routines. Full activity, including sports, is allowed after approximately 5 months.

We are going to perform RSA after 7 weeks (within 15 minutes after cast removal), after 19 weeks i.e. 12 weeks after cast removal, and after 52 weeks (12 months). A certain frame is used allowing us to apply a pedal to the forefoot and load it with weights. The first force applied to the pedal is 25 N and the second is 150 N. The same day CT scans of the injured Achilles tendon are taken.

Group 2 (early weightbearing):

The cast from surgery i removed after 2 weeks and replaced by a removable Air Cast Walker. The patient is provided with a special training pedal where pedal resistance can be increased during the treatment period. The patients are using the Air Cast Walker for 5 weeks (cast treatment in total 7 weeks), but is supposed to remove the cast twice a day and supposed to use the training pedal.

Follow-ups at 7 (cast removal), 19 and 52 weeks using RSA and CT are performed as in group 1.

Conditions

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Achilles Tendon Rupture Soft Tissue Injury Tendon Injury

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

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Early weightbearing

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Early weightbearing

Intervention Type DEVICE

Patients in the intervention group are after 2 weeks supposed to remove the cast twice a day and use a special training pedal for 5 weeks (until cast removal).

Control group

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Early weightbearing

Intervention Type DEVICE

Patients in the intervention group are after 2 weeks supposed to remove the cast twice a day and use a special training pedal for 5 weeks (until cast removal).

Interventions

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Early weightbearing

Patients in the intervention group are after 2 weeks supposed to remove the cast twice a day and use a special training pedal for 5 weeks (until cast removal).

Intervention Type DEVICE

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Acute Achilles Tendon rupture
* Age between 18 and 60 years

Exclusion Criteria

* Previous rupture of either Achilles tendon
* Diabetes mellitus
* History of cancer
* History of Rheumatoid disease
* Treatment with steroids
* Any counterindication for surgical treatment
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

60 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Linkoeping University

OTHER_GOV

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Orthopaedic department, University Hospital Linkoeping, Sweden

Locations

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University Hospital Linkoeping

Linköping, , Sweden

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

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Sweden

Central Contacts

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Thorsten Schepull, M.D.

Role: CONTACT

0046-13-224299

Per Aspenberg, M.D., PhD

Role: CONTACT

0046-13-4166

Facility Contacts

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Thorsten Schepull, M.D.

Role: primary

0046-13-224299

Other Identifiers

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001

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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