Trial Comparing Treatment Strategies in Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex Ruptures

NCT ID: NCT04576169

Last Updated: 2024-10-09

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

RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

204 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2020-10-27

Study Completion Date

2035-03-31

Brief Summary

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

The trial is a multicentre, randomized, superiority, controlled, participant and outcome assessor (debridement versus placebo surgery randomization cohort) and trialist blinded (both arms) superiority, umbrella trial with two randomized cohorts (1. debridement or placebo surgery, 2. repair or physiotherapy) which both include two 1:1 parallel arms. The primary objective is to investigate the superiority of 1) debridement over placebo surgery and 2) repair over physiotherapy in two randomized cohorts using Patient-Rated Wrist Evaluation (PRWE) at one year post randomisation as the primary outcome.

Detailed Description

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

Triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) injuries are often considered the cause of ulnar wrist pain. TFCC lesions can be traumatic or degenerative according to classification suggested by Palmer and Atzei. Primary treatment is conservative, but if symptoms persist, operative treatment is an option. Depending on the morphology of the tear, the treatment can be either debridement or repair. Trialists have observed improvement of symptoms after TFCC repair but all these trials are observational cohorts without proper controls. Efficacy of surgery has not been studied in randomized controlled trial (RCT) setting.

The investigators planned a multicentre, randomized, superiority, controlled, participant and outcome assessor (debridement versus placebo surgery randomisation cohort) and trialist blinded (both arms) superiority, umbrella trial with two randomized cohorts which both include two 1:1 parallel arms. Participants in the first cohort (central or radial TFCC tear) will undergo randomization to either arthroscopic debridement or placebo surgery. In the second cohort (peripheral TFCC tear), participants will be randomized to arthroscopic/open TFCC repair or physiotherapy. Our primary objective is to investigate the superiority of 1) debridement over placebo surgery for central (Palmer 1A) and radial (Palmer 1D) TFCC tears, and 2) repair over non-operative treatment (physiotherapy) for ulnar (Palmer 1B) TFCC tears in two randomized cohorts using Patient-Rated Wrist Evaluation (PRWE) at one year post randomisation as the primary outcome.

Institutional Review Board (IRB) of Tampere university hospital has approved the study protocol. All participants will give written informed consent. The results of the trial will be disseminated as published articles in peer-reviewed journals.

Outcome measures for different studies are often derived from what clinicians, rather than patients, thinks to be important. The investigators chose to base the efficacy assessment on the measure of patient's subjective disability and pain.

There is no clear evidence of the efficacy of the treatments (debridement and repair). It is justified and ethically correct to compare these treatments to placebo surgery and physiotherapy. Placebo surgery and physiotherapy are less invasive than debridement and repair and because of this are even safer to patients than comparable treatments.

Conditions

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

Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex Injury

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

TRIPLE

Participants Investigators Outcome Assessors
Operating surgeon, operating theatre staff, coordinating research assistant (CRA), and research assistants (RA) cannot be blinded to the allocation. In central or radial tear randomization cohort, outcome assessors will be blinded and they will not participate in the care at any other point in the trial, except during follow-up visits. The participants are also blinded, resulting in a triple-blinded randomization cohort since also trialist are blinded in data analysis phase as in foveal tear randomization cohort. In the ulnar tear cohort, randomization cannot be blinded due to differing postoperative treatment.

Study Groups

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

Central or Radial Tear: Arthroscopic debridement

Arthroscopic debridement

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Arthroscopic Debridement

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Wrist arthroscopy can be performed with or without irrigation. In the debridement arm, a central or radial TFCC tear found during arthroscopy is debrided with a shaver. Portals are closed either with sutures or with medical tape. Immediate mobilization of the wrist is allowed after the operation. Participants are provided with instructions for home exercises, and they are advised to commence the exercises two weeks post-operation.

Central or Radial Tear: Sham surgery

Diagnostic arthroscopy only (placebo surgery).

Group Type PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

Placebo surgery

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Diagnostic wrist arthroscopy can be performed with or without irrigation. A central or radial TFCC tear found during wrist arthroscopy is left untouched and no other operative interventions are done. Portals are closed either with sutures or with medical tape. The procedure is performed in general or regional anesthesia in operating room. Participants are not able to see to the operation area or monitor. They will listen to music with noise-cancelling headphones throughout the operation. The operative time will be matched, with the surgeon simulating a debridement procedure. Immediate mobilization of the wrist is allowed after the operation. Participants are provided with instructions for home exercises, and they are advised to commence the exercises two weeks post-operation.

Ulnar Tear: Arthroscopic or open repair

Arthroscopic or open repair

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Arthroscopic or Open Repair

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

An ulnar TFCC tear found during wrist arthroscopy is sutured to the capsule or fovea with one of the separately defined methods choosed by the treating hand surgeon. The procedure is performed in general or regional anesthesia in operating room. Wounds are closed and standardized post-operative treatment is started after six weeks.

Ulnar Tear: Physiotherapy

Diagnostic arthroscopy and physiotherapy

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Physiotherapy

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

An ulnar TFCC tear found during wrist arthroscopy is left untouched and no other operative interventions are done. Portals are closed with sutures or medical tape. The procedure is performed in general or regional anesthesia in operating room. Physiotherapy exercises of wrist and DRUJ stabilizers is started after two weeks.

Interventions

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

Arthroscopic Debridement

Wrist arthroscopy can be performed with or without irrigation. In the debridement arm, a central or radial TFCC tear found during arthroscopy is debrided with a shaver. Portals are closed either with sutures or with medical tape. Immediate mobilization of the wrist is allowed after the operation. Participants are provided with instructions for home exercises, and they are advised to commence the exercises two weeks post-operation.

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Placebo surgery

Diagnostic wrist arthroscopy can be performed with or without irrigation. A central or radial TFCC tear found during wrist arthroscopy is left untouched and no other operative interventions are done. Portals are closed either with sutures or with medical tape. The procedure is performed in general or regional anesthesia in operating room. Participants are not able to see to the operation area or monitor. They will listen to music with noise-cancelling headphones throughout the operation. The operative time will be matched, with the surgeon simulating a debridement procedure. Immediate mobilization of the wrist is allowed after the operation. Participants are provided with instructions for home exercises, and they are advised to commence the exercises two weeks post-operation.

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Arthroscopic or Open Repair

An ulnar TFCC tear found during wrist arthroscopy is sutured to the capsule or fovea with one of the separately defined methods choosed by the treating hand surgeon. The procedure is performed in general or regional anesthesia in operating room. Wounds are closed and standardized post-operative treatment is started after six weeks.

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Physiotherapy

An ulnar TFCC tear found during wrist arthroscopy is left untouched and no other operative interventions are done. Portals are closed with sutures or medical tape. The procedure is performed in general or regional anesthesia in operating room. Physiotherapy exercises of wrist and DRUJ stabilizers is started after two weeks.

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Eligibility Criteria

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

Inclusion Criteria

* Ulnar sided wrist pain
* Age more than 18 years
* Suspicion of TFCC tear in clinical examination
* Ability to fill the Danish, Finnish or Swedish versions of questionnaires
* Symptom duration more than 3 months, and unsuccessful non-operative treatment
* Central (Palmer 1A), ulnar (Palmer 1B) or radial (Palmer 1D) TFCC tear explaining the pain in arthroscopy

Exclusion Criteria

* Gross instability of DRUJ which will be defined as "obvious instability in clinical examination in each forearm and wrist position"
* Distal (Palmer 1C) TFCC tear in arthroscopy
* Ulnocarpal or DRUJ arthrosis (Atzei class 5)
* Ulnar variance ≥ +2 mm in x-ray
* Age above 65 years
* Rheumatoid arthritis or other inflammatory disease effecting radio- or ulnocarpal or DRUJ
* Lunotriquetral instability diagnosed in arthroscopy
* ECU instability
* Massive tear and degenerated edges or frayed tear which fails suture (Atzei class 4A-4B)
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

65 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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

Helsinki University Central Hospital

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Turku University Hospital

OTHER_GOV

Sponsor Role collaborator

Kuopio University Hospital

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Oulu University Hospital

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Karolinska Institutet

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Hospital Sønderjylland

UNKNOWN

Sponsor Role collaborator

Copenhagen University Hospital at Herlev

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Hospital Nova of Central Finland

UNKNOWN

Sponsor Role collaborator

Tampere University Hospital

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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

Jarkko Jokihaara

Associate professor of hand surgery

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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

Antti Kaivorinne, M.D.

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Tampere University Hospital

Mikko P Räisänen, M.D.

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Tampere University Hospital

Teemu Karjalainen, M.D., Ph.D.

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Hospital Nova of Central Finland

Aleksi Reito, M.D., Ph.D., Adjunct professor

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Tampere University Hospital

Robert Gvozdenovic, M.D., Ph. D.

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Copenhagen University Hospital at Herlev

Maria Wilcke, M.D., Ph.D.

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Karolinska Institutet

Turkka Anttila, M.D.

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Helsinki University Central Hospital

Annele Pönkkö, M.D.

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Oulu University Hospital

Jerzy Stiasny, M.D.

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Hospital Sønderjylland

Tuukka Tanskanen, M.D.

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Turku University Hospital

Locations

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

Herlev/Gentofte University Hospital of Copenhagen

Copenhagen, , Denmark

Site Status RECRUITING

Hospital Sønderjylland

Sønderborg, , Denmark

Site Status RECRUITING

Hospital Nova of Central Finland

Jyväskylä, Central Finland, Finland

Site Status RECRUITING

Oulu University Hospital

Oulu, North Ostrobothnia, Finland

Site Status RECRUITING

Kuopio University Hospital

Kuopio, Northern Savonia, Finland

Site Status RECRUITING

Tampere University Hospital

Tampere, Pirkanmaa, Finland

Site Status RECRUITING

Turku University Hospital

Turku, Southwest Finland, Finland

Site Status RECRUITING

Helsinki University Hospital

Helsinki, Uusimaa, Finland

Site Status RECRUITING

Karolinska University Hospital

Stockholm, , Sweden

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

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

Denmark Finland Sweden

Central Contacts

Reach out to these primary contacts for questions about participation or study logistics.

Ville M Mattila, M.D., Ph.D., Professor

Role: CONTACT

+3583311611

Jarkko Jokihaara, M.D., Ph.D., Professor

Role: CONTACT

+3583311611

Facility Contacts

Find local site contact details for specific facilities participating in the trial.

Robert Gvozdenovic, M.D.

Role: primary

+45 38 67 38 67

Jerzy Stiasny, M.D.

Role: primary

Teemu Karjalainen, M.D., Ph.D.

Role: primary

+358142691811

Toni Luokkala, M.D.

Role: backup

+358142691811

Annele Pönkkö, M.D.

Role: primary

+35883152011

Janne Soikkeli, M.D.

Role: backup

+35883152011

Matti-Aleksi Mosorin, M.D.

Role: backup

Mikko P Räisänen, M.D.

Role: primary

+35817173311

Matti Juntunen, M.D.

Role: backup

+35817173311

Antti Kaivorinne, M.D.

Role: primary

+3583311611

Patrick Luukinen, M.D.

Role: backup

+3583311611

Tuukka Tanskanen, M.D

Role: primary

+35823130000

Heli Lähdeniemi, M.D.

Role: backup

+35823130000

Turkka Anttila, M.D.

Role: primary

+35894711

Panu Nordback, M.D., Ph.D., Adjunct prof.

Role: backup

+35894711

Maria Wilcke, M.D., Ph.D.

Role: primary

+46 8 517 700 00

References

Explore related publications, articles, or registry entries linked to this study.

Kaivorinne A, Raisanen MP, Karjalainen T, Jokihaara J, Gvozdenovic R, Wilcke M, Reito A, Anttila T, Ponkko A, Lauridsen C, Tanskanen T, Mattila VM; REINFORCER investigators. tREatment of trIaNgular FibrOcaRtilage ComplEx Ruptures (REINFORCER): protocol for randomised, controlled, blinded, efficacy trial of triangular fibrocartilage complex tears. BMJ Open. 2024 Dec 11;14(12):e086102. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2024-086102.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 39663172 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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

Tampere University Hospital

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

More Related Trials

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

Spacer Graft Study
NCT04140734 RECRUITING NA
Treatment of ATFL Tears With PRP
NCT00725907 COMPLETED NA