Tibial Tubercle Distalisation and Accelerated Rehabilitation

Launched by TAMPERE UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL · May 2, 2023

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is looking at two different rehabilitation approaches for patients with a specific knee condition called patella alta, which can cause knee pain and issues like dislocations. The trial aims to find out if a new, faster rehabilitation program can help patients recover more quickly and improve their knee function compared to the traditional, slower rehabilitation method after a surgical procedure known as tibial tubercle distalisation. Researchers will track patients’ recovery over six, twelve, and twenty-four weeks to see if the faster approach leads to better results and if the number of complications is similar in both groups.

To participate in this trial, individuals need to be between the ages of 15 and 35 and have been experiencing significant knee pain or dislocation issues that haven’t improved with regular rehabilitation. Those with certain knee joint problems, severe health issues, or who do not understand the instructions may not be eligible. Participants will be randomly assigned to either the fast or traditional rehabilitation program after their surgery, and they can expect regular check-ins to assess their recovery progress. If someone chooses not to join the trial, they will still be followed up with standard care while providing feedback on their experience.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Symptomatic patella alta with recurrent dislocation or subluxation. Long-lasting anterior knee pain not responding to rehabilitation.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• Radiographic:
• • Open growth plates
• • Iwano \[8\] grade III and IV changes in patellofemoral joint
• • Caton-Deschamps \<1.1 in MRI
• • PTI \>50% in MRI
• • High grade trochlear dysplasia
• General:
• • Refuses to participate in the study
• • Aged less than 15 or more than 35 years
• • Severe neurological, pulmonal or cardiovascular comorbidities that are contraindications for surgery
• • Lack of adequate co-operation
• • Does not adequately understand written and spoken instructions in the local language
• • Those patients who decline to take part in the trial will be asked to join a follow-up cohort as a background population. The patients in this follow-up cohort will be treated "as normal" without allocation, but the follow-up questionnaires will be the same as those given to the randomly assigned population. The patients in the follow-up cohort will also be asked to provide informed written consent.