Intra Articular Ankle Fractures

NCT ID: NCT05465382

Last Updated: 2025-11-24

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

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Recruitment Status

TERMINATED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

41 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2022-07-22

Study Completion Date

2024-05-07

Brief Summary

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The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of early, percutaneous, intra-articular saline lavage on the undiluted synovial fluid microenvironment during the acute phase following intra-articular fracture of the human ankle. We hypothesize that early intervention with percutaneous joint lavage in the first 0-48 hours after injury will attenuate the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, MMP's and cartilage breakdown products compared to non-lavaged control subjects at the time of surgical fixation.

Detailed Description

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Saline joint lavage represents a potentially simple, low-risk and minimal-cost intervention which has not been previously studied for the purpose of reducing the post-fracture inflammatory burden in human subjects. Open joint lavage at the time of definitive surgical fixation is within the standard of care, but typically occurs greater than 10 days after injury by which time cartilage degradation has already begun. Early, saline lavage during initial presentation to the emergency department may theoretically alter the progression of the intra-articular inflammatory response by evacuating the bulk of the developing synovial-fluid fracture hematoma.

The vast majority of ankle fractures present to the ER or urgent care within a day of fracture. Moreover, a large subset of these fractures require reduction (fracture setting) that is painful. It is our standard of care to perform an intra-articular lidocaine injection before reduction. We will take advantage of this standard of care needle insertion to the fractured ankle to perform saline joint lavage to diminish this early inflammatory burden. Adult patients presenting to the Duke University Hospital Emergency Department with an intra-articular fracture of the ankle joint between 0-48 hours from the time of injury will be eligible for inclusion. Patients will be randomized into one of two groups: 1) intra-articular saline lavage, vs 2) no intra-articular saline lavage. Intra-articular aspiration of synovial fluid from the injured ankle will occur both at the time of presentation to the emergency department and at the time of surgery. These synovial fluid samples will be analyzed for differences in key pro-inflammatory cytokines, matrix metalloproteinases and cartilage breakdown products to determine if early saline lavage effects the composition of the synovial fluid micro-environment.

Conditions

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Intra-Articular Fractures

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Patients will be randomized into one of two groups: 1) intra-articular saline lavage, vs 2) no intra-articular saline lavage. Intra-articular aspiration of synovial fluid from the injured ankle will occur both at the time of presentation to the emergency department and at the time of surgery.
Primary Study Purpose

PREVENTION

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Participants
Randomization will occur by the opening of pre-prepared envelopes which will be stored in the orthopaedic resident office. Envelopes will be labeled #1-#60. Thirty envelopes will contain a note card labeled "Group 1" and Thirty envelopes will contain a note card labeled "Group 2". Envelopes will be pre-prepared by key study personnel not involved in the consent or randomization process.

Study Groups

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Intra-articular saline lavage

Subjects in Group 1 will then undergo saline joint lavage as follows:

Subjects will undergo aspiration of the injured ankle joint via the standard anteromedial arthroscopy portal approach. This will be performed with sterile technique using a 16-gauge needle attached to a 10cc syringe. After synovial fluid aspiration, three 10cc syringes will be filled with 10cc of sterile 0.9% normal saline. Normal saline will be injected into the ankle joint and withdrawn from the joint via the existing anteromedial 16 gauge needle. After three rounds of lavage, 10cc of 1% lidocaine without epinephrine will be injected into the joint via the existing anteromedial 16-gauge needle. Subjects will undergo a period of soft tissue rest to allow for the resolution of soft tissue swelling. At the time of surgical fixation subjects will again undergo intra-articular aspiration of the injured ankle joint.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Saline Lavage

Intervention Type DEVICE

Three rounds of 10cc of sterile 0.9% normal saline will be injected into the injured ankle joint and withdrawn from the joint using an anteromedial 16-gauge needle attached to a 10cc syringe.

Lidocaine - intra-articular injection

Intervention Type DRUG

Intra-articular injection of 10cc of 1% lidocaine without epinephrine via the existing anteromedial 16-gauge needle.

Synovial Fluid Aspiration

Intervention Type OTHER

Aspiration of ankle joint via standard anteromedial approach. Performed using sterile technique using 16-guage needle attached to 10cc syringe.

No intra-articular saline lavage

Subjects in group 2 will not undergo normal saline lavage.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

No intra-articular saline lavage

Intervention Type OTHER

Subjects in group 2 will not undergo normal saline lavage.

Lidocaine - intra-articular injection

Intervention Type DRUG

Intra-articular injection of 10cc of 1% lidocaine without epinephrine via the existing anteromedial 16-gauge needle.

Synovial Fluid Aspiration

Intervention Type OTHER

Aspiration of ankle joint via standard anteromedial approach. Performed using sterile technique using 16-guage needle attached to 10cc syringe.

Interventions

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Saline Lavage

Three rounds of 10cc of sterile 0.9% normal saline will be injected into the injured ankle joint and withdrawn from the joint using an anteromedial 16-gauge needle attached to a 10cc syringe.

Intervention Type DEVICE

No intra-articular saline lavage

Subjects in group 2 will not undergo normal saline lavage.

Intervention Type OTHER

Lidocaine - intra-articular injection

Intra-articular injection of 10cc of 1% lidocaine without epinephrine via the existing anteromedial 16-gauge needle.

Intervention Type DRUG

Synovial Fluid Aspiration

Aspiration of ankle joint via standard anteromedial approach. Performed using sterile technique using 16-guage needle attached to 10cc syringe.

Intervention Type OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Adult subjects (over 18 years of age)
* Must be treated at Duke University Hospital Emergency Department
* Intra-articular fracture of the ankle joint (any fracture of the fibula or tibia in which the fracture line(s) exit into the cartilage surface of the ankle joint)
* Subjects presenting between 0-48 hours from the time of injury

Exclusion Criteria

* Age \< 18 y.o.
* Open fracture
* Nonoperatively treated fractures
* Subjects presenting \>48 hours from the time of injury
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Duke University

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

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Samuel Adams, MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Duke Health

Locations

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Duke University Medical Center

Durham, North Carolina, United States

Site Status

Countries

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United States

References

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Huch K, Kuettner KE, Dieppe P. Osteoarthritis in ankle and knee joints. Semin Arthritis Rheum. 1997 Feb;26(4):667-74. doi: 10.1016/s0049-0172(97)80002-9.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 9062947 (View on PubMed)

Brown TD, Johnston RC, Saltzman CL, Marsh JL, Buckwalter JA. Posttraumatic osteoarthritis: a first estimate of incidence, prevalence, and burden of disease. J Orthop Trauma. 2006 Nov-Dec;20(10):739-44. doi: 10.1097/01.bot.0000246468.80635.ef.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 17106388 (View on PubMed)

Delco ML, Kennedy JG, Bonassar LJ, Fortier LA. Post-traumatic osteoarthritis of the ankle: A distinct clinical entity requiring new research approaches. J Orthop Res. 2017 Mar;35(3):440-453. doi: 10.1002/jor.23462. Epub 2016 Nov 8.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 27764893 (View on PubMed)

Buckwalter JA, Brown TD. Joint injury, repair, and remodeling: roles in post-traumatic osteoarthritis. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2004 Jun;(423):7-16.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 15232420 (View on PubMed)

McKinley TO, Tochigi Y, Rudert MJ, Brown TD. The effect of incongruity and instability on contact stress directional gradients in human cadaveric ankles. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 2008 Nov;16(11):1363-9. doi: 10.1016/j.joca.2008.04.005. Epub 2008 Jun 3.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 18511308 (View on PubMed)

Dirschl DR, Marsh JL, Buckwalter JA, Gelberman R, Olson SA, Brown TD, Llinias A. Articular fractures. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2004 Nov-Dec;12(6):416-23. doi: 10.5435/00124635-200411000-00006.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 15615507 (View on PubMed)

Giannoudis PV, Tzioupis C, Papathanassopoulos A, Obakponovwe O, Roberts C. Articular step-off and risk of post-traumatic osteoarthritis. Evidence today. Injury. 2010 Oct;41(10):986-95. doi: 10.1016/j.injury.2010.08.003.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 20728882 (View on PubMed)

Allen NB, Abar B, Danilkowicz RM, Kraus VB, Olson SA, Adams SB. Intra-Articular Synovial Fluid With Hematoma After Ankle Fracture Promotes Cartilage Damage In Vitro Partially Attenuated by Anti-Inflammatory Agents. Foot Ankle Int. 2022 Mar;43(3):426-438. doi: 10.1177/10711007211046952. Epub 2021 Oct 7.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 34617803 (View on PubMed)

Hembree WC, Ward BD, Furman BD, Zura RD, Nichols LA, Guilak F, Olson SA. Viability and apoptosis of human chondrocytes in osteochondral fragments following joint trauma. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 2007 Oct;89(10):1388-95. doi: 10.1302/0301-620X.89B10.18907.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 17957084 (View on PubMed)

Adams SB, Setton LA, Bell RD, Easley ME, Huebner JL, Stabler T, Kraus VB, Leimer EM, Olson SA, Nettles DL. Inflammatory Cytokines and Matrix Metalloproteinases in the Synovial Fluid After Intra-articular Ankle Fracture. Foot Ankle Int. 2015 Nov;36(11):1264-71. doi: 10.1177/1071100715611176. Epub 2015 Oct 8.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 26449389 (View on PubMed)

Adams SB, Reilly RM, Huebner JL, Kraus VB, Nettles DL. Time-Dependent Effects on Synovial Fluid Composition During the Acute Phase of Human Intra-articular Ankle Fracture. Foot Ankle Int. 2017 Oct;38(10):1055-1063. doi: 10.1177/1071100717728234. Epub 2017 Sep 11.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 28891711 (View on PubMed)

Kimmerling KA, Furman BD, Mangiapani DS, Moverman MA, Sinclair SM, Huebner JL, Chilkoti A, Kraus VB, Setton LA, Guilak F, Olson SA. Sustained intra-articular delivery of IL-1RA from a thermally-responsive elastin-like polypeptide as a therapy for post-traumatic arthritis. Eur Cell Mater. 2015 Jan 31;29:124-39; discussion 139-40. doi: 10.22203/ecm.v029a10.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 25636786 (View on PubMed)

Furman BD, Mangiapani DS, Zeitler E, Bailey KN, Horne PH, Huebner JL, Kraus VB, Guilak F, Olson SA. Targeting pro-inflammatory cytokines following joint injury: acute intra-articular inhibition of interleukin-1 following knee injury prevents post-traumatic arthritis. Arthritis Res Ther. 2014 Jun 25;16(3):R134. doi: 10.1186/ar4591.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 24964765 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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Pro00110537

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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