Early arthroscoPic Stabilization veRsus rehabilitatiOn of the Shoulder in Adolescents With a trauMatic First-time Anterior Shoulder Dislocation ePisode

NCT ID: NCT04887337

Last Updated: 2025-11-26

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: TERMINATED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 2 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2022-09-19
• Study Completion Date: 2025-10-24

Brief Summary

Each year within Canada and the US, more than 30,000 children and adolescents will have an injury to their shoulder resulting in a shoulder dislocation. Although the current practice is to manage this initial dislocation without surgery, the vast majority of these children and adolescents will, unfortunately continue to have instability episodes of their shoulder. Recurrent instability can cause damage to the bones and cartilage that form the shoulder resulting in potentially more difficult surgical stabilization, and possibly long-term sequela. To that effect, there is increasing interest to consider early surgical stabilization in this population. This pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) will evaluate the feasibility of conducting a larger RCT assessing the effect of early arthroscopic stabilization compared to rehabilitation on the rate of repeat shoulder dislocations (recurrent instability), pain, and shoulder function among adolescents (aged 12-18 years) with first-time shoulder dislocations. These patients will be followed for one year.

Conditions

Shoulder Dislocation

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: SINGLE

Study Groups

Arthroscopic stabilization

Patients will have an initial evaluation with a diagnostic shoulder arthroscopy and examination under anesthesia will be performed to confirm the degree of anterior instability and assess range of motion of the affected shoulder. Diagnostic arthroscopy will commence with the use of 3 standard shoulder portals (posterior viewing and two anterior working portals for suture passing), and a detailed arthroscopic examination will be performed. Once the soft tissue tear (including the labrum, and capsule labrum ligaments) is identified, it will be mobilized using a rasp or elevator and a burr will then be used to create a surface for a bleeding bone bed. Capsulolabral repair will then commence with the labrum fixed to the glenoid using suture anchors (the Bankart repair). Following surgery, subjects in this group will follow the same rehabilitation protocol as the comparison group.

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Arthroscopic stabilization

Intervention Type: PROCEDURE

Early arthroscopic stabilization with Bankart repair

Rehabilitation including a period of immobilization followed by physical therapy

Subjects in this group will use an internal-rotation shoulder immobilizer, using a standard sling for 6 weeks from the day of enrollment. Subjects will be advised to maintain range of motion (ROM) in the elbow and wrist during this period of time. The immobilizer can be removed for passive pendulum exercises and elbow ROM during the period of immobilization up to 4 times per day. Formal physiotherapy commences at 4 weeks post-enrollment, with a goal of return to activities or sport at 6-months post-enrollment.

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Rehabilitation including a period of immobilization followed by physical therapy

Intervention Type: OTHER

Rehabilitation including a period of immobilization followed by physical therapy

Interventions

Arthroscopic stabilization

Early arthroscopic stabilization with Bankart repair

Intervention Type: PROCEDURE

Rehabilitation including a period of immobilization followed by physical therapy

Rehabilitation including a period of immobilization followed by physical therapy

Intervention Type: OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

1. Males and females between the ages of 12 and 18, inclusive

2. Patients with a first-time traumatic anterior glenohumeral dislocation within the past 3 months

3. Anterior glenohumeral dislocation confirmed by radiography, reduction required by medical personnel, or demonstration of anterior apprehension on physical examination following injury to the shoulder

4. MRI or MRA demonstrating disruption of the glenohumeral soft tissues (including the labrum, periosteum, or inferior glenohumeral ligament) relating to instability

5. Patients who have the ability to speak, understand, and read English

6. Provision of informed consent (age 18) or parental consent (ages 12-17, inclusive)

7. Provision of informed child assent (ages 12-17, inclusive)

Exclusion Criteria

1. Previous dislocation episodes or instability of the affected shoulder

2. Previous surgeries involving the affected shoulder

3. History or clinical exam findings of generalized ligamentous laxity (defined as a Beighton score of 4 or more points)

4. History of multi-directional instability of either shoulder

5. Concomitant fracture of the tuberosity, humerus, or glenoid (excluding a Bankart or Hill Sachs lesion)

6. Bony Bankart lesion exceeding 15% of the glenoid surface (using the best-fit circle method on MRI)

7. Hill Sachs lesion exceeding 15% of the humeral diameter (Measured on transaxial slice of MRI similar to Salomonsson et al.)

8. A neurological injury of the affected arm

9. Patients who will likely have problems, in the judgement of the investigator, with maintaining follow-up

10. Any other reason(s) the investigator feels is relevant for excluding the patient

• Minimum Eligible Age: 12 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

McMaster University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Locations

McMaster University

Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

Countries

Canada

Other Identifiers

PROMPT

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id