Vertebral Body Tethering Outcomes for Pediatric Idiopathic Scoliosis

September 16, 2024 updated by: Patrick Cahill, MD

Safety and Feasibility of a Vertebral Body Tethering Technique for Pediatric Idiopathic Scoliosis

This study will assess whether Anterior Vertebral Tethering is a safe and feasible method of anterior approach surgery for spinal deformity in pediatric idiopathic scoliosis.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

Scoliosis is a condition in which the spine is deformed by a curvature in the coronal plane. It is generally associated with a twisting (axial plane) deformity as well. It can have a variety of underlying etiologies and the etiology is used to classify the types of scoliosis. Idiopathic scoliosis is sub-classified in two ways: by age of onset and by magnitude of deformity. Curves between 10 and 25 degrees are considered mild. Curves between 25 and 50 degrees are classified as moderate. Curves greater than 50 degrees are termed severe. The current standard of care for moderate scoliosis in patients with remaining growth is to utilize a thoracolumbosacral orthosis (TLSO brace) to prevent progression of deformity. The scientific evidence has supported the efficacy of this intervention in avoiding progression of the Cobb angle to 50 degrees or more.

If treated with a TLSO brace, many idiopathic scoliosis patients would conceivably be subjected to years of brace wear and the cost and psychological factors inherent therein. Additional downsides of brace treatment include the potentially negative psychosocial impact of wearing an external sign of deformity during adolescence, a key period of emotional development. Prior research has identified negative psychosocial effects related to wearing a brace in children.

Recent evidence has suggested that certain curve patterns will likely progress to 50 degrees or more, despite treatment with a TLSO brace. Sanders, et al. demonstrated a correlation of Cobb angle (greater than 35 degrees) and skeletal maturity (bone age 4 or less) to the risk of progression to 50 degrees or more, despite TLSO bracing. The evidence supports that the current practice of TLSO bracing is not an effective treatment to avoid progression to 50 degrees in these patients. It is on this population (thoracic Cobb angle greater than 35 degrees, bone age of 4 or less) that we intend to test the safety and feasibility of Anterior Vertebral Body Tethering to avoid curve progression to 50 degrees.

The study intervention is surgical orthopedic implantation of the Anterior Vertebral Tether Device, by way of thoracoscopic surgery under general anesthesia. The primary outcome measures include assessments of safety of the insertion procedure and of the device, as well as the secondary measure of feasibility by determining the ability to successfully implant the investigational device.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
20

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Pennsylvania
      • Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, 19104
        • The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

8 years to 16 years (Child)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Males or females age 8 to 16 years old at time of enrollment (inclusive)
  2. Diagnosis of idiopathic scoliosis
  3. Sanders bone age of less than or equal to 4
  4. Thoracic curve of greater than or equal to 35 degrees and less than or equal to 60 degrees
  5. Lumbar curve less than 35 degrees
  6. Patient has already been identified for and recommended to have surgical intervention
  7. Spina bifida occulta is permitted
  8. Spondylolysis or Spondylolisthesis is permitted, as long as it is non-operative, the subject has not had any previous surgery for this, and no surgery is planned in the future

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Pregnancy (current)
  2. Prior spinal or chest surgery
  3. MRI abnormalities (including syrinx greater than 4mm, Chiari malformation, or tethered cord)
  4. Neuromuscular, thoracogenic, cardiogenic scoliosis, or any other non-idiopathic scoliosis
  5. Associated syndrome, including Marfan syndrome or neurofibromatosis
  6. Sanders bone age greater than 4
  7. Thoracic curve less than 35 degrees or greater than 60 degrees
  8. Lumbar curve greater than or equal to 35 degrees
  9. Unable or unwilling to firmly commit to returning for required follow-up visits
  10. Investigator judgement that the subject/family may not be a candidate for the intervention

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Device Feasibility
  • Allocation: N/A
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Anterior Vertebral Tethering
Subjects receiving Anterior Vertebral Tethering intervention.
Device: Anterior Vertebral Tether
Vertebral body tethering through anterior thoracoscopic approach under general anesthesia and fluoroscopic guidance.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Incidence of Treatment-Emergent Adverse Events
Time Frame: up to 2 years
Intra-operative and post-intervention medical events or signs and symptoms of complications arising after the start of study intervention will be captured. The event description, date of onset, end date, severity, and outcome will be documented. The frequencies, type, body system, severity, and relationship to the study intervention will also be summarized. A distinction will be made between those events which are "device-related" and "non device-related".
up to 2 years

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Comparison of Pre-Operative and Post-Operative Cobb Angle
Time Frame: up to 2 years
The exploratory therapeutic endpoint used for feasibility will be change in post-operative Cobb angle compared to pre-operative Cobb angle, measured on coronal radiograph of the spine.
up to 2 years
Comparison of Pre-Operative and Post-Operative SRS 30 Scores
Time Frame: up to 2 years
The Scoliosis Research Society 30 (SRS-30) questionnaire will be administered at pre-operative and post-operative time points. This questionnaire measures health-related quality of life outcomes. It consists of 30 questions divided into five domains: Function/Activity (5 questions), Pain (5 questions), Self-image/Appearance (5 questions), Mental Health (5 questions), and Satisfaction with management (2 questions). The remaining 8 questions are a combination of different domains. Each question is scored on a 5-point scale (1 = worst, 5 = best). To score each domain, sum the scores of the questions within that domain and then divide by the number of questions in that domain to get an average score. To calculate the total overall score, sum all the individual question scores and then divide by the total number of questions (30). Higher scores indicate better health-related quality of life.
up to 2 years

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Patrick Cahill, MD

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Patrick Cahill, MD, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
July 12, 2017

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
January 26, 2022

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
January 26, 2022

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
June 12, 2017

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
June 19, 2017

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
June 21, 2017

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
September 23, 2024

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
September 16, 2024

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
September 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 17-013694

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

Yes

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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