Subchondroplasty® Knee RCT (PRESERVE Knee)

A Randomized Controlled Trial of the Subchondroplasty® Procedure With Arthroscopy Versus Arthroscopy Alone for Treatment of Bone Marrow Lesions in the Knee

This is a multi-center, prospective, single-blinded, two-arm study, randomized to include approximately 134 subjects treated with Subchondroplasty (SCP) + Arthroscopy and 67 subjects with arthroscopy alone.

The primary objective of this study is to demonstrate superiority of Subchondroplasty with arthroscopy compared to arthroscopy alone for treatment of Bone Marrow Lesions (BMLs) in the knee.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Osteoarthritis; Knee Osteoarthritis; Osteoarthritis, Knee; Bone Marrow Edema; Knee Pain Chronic
• Intervention / Treatment: Procedure: Subchondroplasty with Arthroscopy; Procedure: Arthroscopy Alone

Detailed Description

This is a multicenter, prospective, single-blinded, two-arm, randomized study. Enrolled subjects will have a single Bone Marrow Lesion of the tibia, single BML of the femur, or adjoining Bone Marrow Lesions of tibia and femur. Subjects will also be surgical candidates for knee arthroscopy due to mechanical symptoms, meniscus tear, loose body and/or synovitis.

A stratified blocked randomization will be used to assign subjects to either Subchondroplasty with arthroscopy or to arthroscopy alone in a 2:1 ratio. Individual sets of blocks will be determined within study site and lesion polarity status (unipolar vs. bipolar).

Subjects will be enrolled within 60 days prior to surgery and take part in follow-up visits for two years following surgery. A preoperative visit will occur at the time of enrollment. Follow-up visits were to initially occur at the study site at 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, 12 months, and 24 months post-surgery. Telephone follow-up interviews to be be performed at 9 and 18 months post-surgery. Target enrollment was 201 subjects, to include 134 subjects in the treatment group (Subchondroplasty + Arthroscopy) and 67 subjects in the control group (Arthroscopy alone).

As of October 2020, follow-up has been amended to be completed remotely, where all visits can be performed electronically and/or via telephone.

Subjects will complete the study at the 24 month follow-up visit. For the purposes of this protocol, a revision will be defined as any partial or total joint arthroplasty or any bone fixation, bone grafting or bone substitute procedure in the same compartment in the study knee.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 134
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Canada
  • Ontario
    • Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, L8N4A6
      • Research St. Joseph's - Hamilton
• United States
  • California
    • Encinitas, California, United States, 92024
      • CORE Orthopaedic Medical Center
    • Loma Linda, California, United States, 92354
      • Loma Linda University Health System
    • Stanford, California, United States, 94305
      • Stanford University
  • Florida
    • Tampa, Florida, United States, 33637
      • Foundation for Orthopaedic Research and Education
  • Georgia
    • Atlanta, Georgia, United States, 30329
      • Emory University
  • Illinois
    • Chicago, Illinois, United States, 60612-3833
      • Rush University Medical Center
  • Maryland
    • Timonium, Maryland, United States, 21093
      • MedStar Health Research Institute
  • New Mexico
    • Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States, 87106
      • New Mexico Orthopaedic Fellowship Foundation
  • Ohio
    • Columbus, Ohio, United States, 43202
      • The Ohio State University
  • South Carolina
    • Greenville, South Carolina, United States, 29615
      • Hawkins Foundation
  • Texas
    • Austin, Texas, United States, 78745
      • Orthopedic Associates of Central Texas
  • Virginia
    • Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, 22903
      • University of Virginia

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 30 years to 75 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Candidates must meet ALL of the following:

  1. Voluntary signature of the Institutional Review Board/Research Ethics Board approved Informed Consent,
  2. Male or female subjects between the ages of 30 to 75 years,
  3. Body Mass Index ≤ 40 (BMI=kg/m2),
  4. Has experienced pain in study knee for at least 3 months,
  5. Kellgren-Lawrence grade 1-3 Osteoarthritis, as reviewed on preoperative XR imaging, in the study knee,
  6. BML is confirmed on T2 weighted or Proton Density MR Imaging by presence of white signal,
  7. Single BML of tibia, single BML of femur, or adjoining BML's of tibia & femur, in the same compartment, extending to the articular surface of the joint,
  8. Surgical candidate for knee arthroscopy due to mechanical symptoms, meniscus tear, loose body and/or synovitis,
  9. Must record a response, at the preoperative study visit, of moderate to extreme pain for any one of the KOOS Pain Scale questions, P2 through P9,
  10. Index knee alignment is defined radiographically as one of the following: Neutral, ≤ 6° mechanical varus, or ≤ 6° mechanical valgus,
  11. Ligaments in the study knee are stable,
  12. The contralateral (non-study) knee is stable and functional,

  13. Is refractory to conservative non-surgical management

      1. having failed 2 or more of the following: hyaluronic acid injection, corticosteroid injection, NSAIDs, physical therapy, bracing, activity modification, or minimal surgical intervention (e.g., arthroscopy, debridement/chondroplasty, and/or loose body removal)
      2. and is ≥ 3 months from the start of treatment,
  14. Must be physically and mentally willing and able, in the Investigator's opinion at the time of enrollment, to be compliant with the protocol - including all follow-up visits, survey completion, weight-bearing restrictions, and post-operative rehabilitation.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Candidates will be excluded if they meet ANY of the following:

  1. BML caused by acute trauma less than 3 months prior to enrollment,

  2. Clinical and/or radiographic disease diagnosis of the index knee that includes any of the following:

     1. Kellgren-Lawrence Grade 4 Osteoarthritis with complete loss of joint space (bone-on-bone) or subchondral bone collapse,
     2. Rheumatoid arthritis, or history of septic or reactive arthritis,
     3. Gout or a history of gout or pseudogout in the affected knee,
     4. Has more than two clinically relevant BMLs in the index knee,
     5. Osteochondritis dissecans of the knee with significant bone loss,
     6. Collapse of subchondral bone,
     7. Clinically relevant BML located at ACL/PCL insertion,
     8. MRI evidence of frank ligament instability,
  3. Passive knee flexion < 110° or flexion contracture >30°,
  4. History of systemic diseases which could contribute to secondary arthropathies (e.g., sickle cell disease, hemochromatosis, or autoimmune disease),
  5. Has a neuromuscular, neurosensory, or musculoskeletal deficiency that limits the ability to perform objective functional assessment of either knee,
  6. If diabetic, blood glucose over 200 mg/dL at time of enrollment,
  7. Current daily tobacco or high nicotine product user or < 3 months from nicotine cessation,
  8. Presents a high surgical risk due to unstable cardiac and/or pulmonary disease,
  9. Has HIV or other immunodeficient state including subjects on immunosuppressant therapies, or has significant illness (metastasis of any type) that decreases the probability of survival to the 2 year endpoint,
  10. Is at substantial risk for the need of organ transplantation, such as renal insufficiency,
  11. Is pregnant or breast-feeding at the time of surgery,
  12. Has a history of any invasive malignancy (except non-melanoma skin cancer), unless treated with curative intent and with no clinical signs or symptoms of the malignancy for 5 years,
  13. Has primary bone tumor in the knee area,
  14. Anticipates having a lower extremity surgery other than the investigational surgery during the course of the study,
  15. Is participating concurrently in another clinical trial, or has participated in a clinical trial within 30 days of surgery,
  16. Is receiving prescription pain medication other than NSAIDs or acetaminophen for conditions unrelated to the index knee condition, chronic use of anticoagulants, or taking corticosteroids,
  17. Active joint infection or history of chronic joint infection at the surgical site,
  18. Prior total meniscectomy of index knee,
  19. Has primarily patellofemoral symptoms,
  20. Is indicated for concomitant procedures (i.e., microfracture, subchondral drilling, cartilage allograft, ligament or tendon repair, distal realignment/osteotomy, root repair) in the index knee, with the exception of incidental loose body removal, debridement, synovectomy, osteophyte removal in locations other than adjacent to BMLs, and/or partial meniscectomy,
  21. Has contraindications for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI),
  22. Is receiving worker's compensation or is currently involved in litigation relating to the index knee,
  23. Has a history of substance abuse.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Subchondroplasty with Arthroscopy; After randomization to the study group, subjects assigned to the Subchondroplasty + Arthroscopy group will undergo the Subchondroplasty portion of the procedure before or after the Arthroscopy portion per the surgeon's discretion. All operative procedures are to be performed under aseptic conditions according to the institution's standards.	Procedure: Subchondroplasty with Arthroscopy; The Subchondroplasty® (SCP®) Procedure targets and fills bone defects with AccuFill® Bone Substitute Material utilizing an arthroscopic / percutaneous approach. Using intraoperative fluoroscopy, the bone defect is localized relative to MRI findings The appropriate AccuPort® Delivery Cannula is drilled to the bone defect. AccuFill® Bone Substitute Material is then injected into the subchondral bone defect. The calcium phosphate (CaP) fills the edematous void and hardens within the Bone Marrow Lesion. The CaP is resorbed over time and replaced with new bone during the healing process.
Sham Comparator: Arthroscopy Alone; After randomization, subjects assigned to the Arthroscopy control group will undergo arthroscopy of the study knee with one or more of the following procedures: Partial meniscectomy; Lavage; Debridement; Loose body removal; Synovectomy; Removal of osteophytes in the notch or locations other than those adjacent to BML(s) Superficial skin incision(s) should be created at the typical AccuPort® access point(s) as if the subject had undergone Subchondroplasty. The incisions should be closed in the typical fashion.	Procedure: Arthroscopy Alone; An endoscopic examination, therapy and surgery of the knee joint.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Composite Clinical Success	The primary objective of this study is to determine whether Subchondroplasty with arthroscopy is superior to arthroscopy alone for treatment of bone marrow lesions in the knee. Superiority will be evaluated in terms of Composite Clinical Success (CCS) requiring freedom from subsequent secondary surgical intervention (SSSI) and among those free from SSSI, a clinically meaningful reduction in self-reported pain based on a validated measure of subject-reported pain (improvement in KOOS (Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score) pain of at least 10 points at 12 months) . For the purpose of this study, SSSI will include any partial or total joint arthroplasty or any bone grafting or bone substitute procedure in the study knee.	Superiority will be statistically tested at month 12 at p<0.01

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change from baseline KOOS subscale scores at 12 Months	Comparison of mean change in KOOS subscale scores (Pain, Activities of Daily Living), Symptoms, Sports and Recreation, Quality of Life)	12 months post-surgery
Change from baseline Numeric Pain Score at 12 Months	Comparison of mean Numeric Pain Score	12 months post-surgery
Change from baseline EQ-5D score at 12 Months	Comparison of mean EQ-5D score	12 months post-surgery
Change from baseline Global Satisfaction score at 12 Months	Comparison of mean Global Satisfaction score	12 months post-surgery
Change from baseline x-rays to 12 Months	X-ray evaluation of joint space narrowing, osteophyte and cyst formation and subchondral sclerosis	12 months post-surgery
MRI analysis	MRI analysis of bone marrow lesion variables	12 months post-surgery
Incidence of post-operative complications and adverse events	Incidence of post-operative complications and adverse events	12 months post-surgery
Time to resolution of post-operative complications and adverse events	Time to resolution of post-operative complications and adverse events	12 months post-surgery
Incidence of joint injections	Incidence of joint injections	12 months post-surgery
Time to joint injections	Time to joint injections	12 months post-surgery
Incidence of re-operations and revisions	Incidence of re-operations and revisions	12 months post-surgery
Time to re-operations and revisions	Time to re-operations and revisions	12 months post-surgery
Healthcare utilization	Estimated total healthcare expenditure through 12 months	12 months post-surgery

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Zimmer Biomet
• Collaborators: Medical Metrics Diagnostics, Inc; MedNet Solutions
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Jason Dragoo, MD, University of Colorado, Denver

Publications and helpful links

Helpful Links

• The Subchondroplasty® (SCP®) Procedure

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): March 29, 2017
• Primary Completion (Actual): August 23, 2023
• Study Completion (Actual): August 23, 2023

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: March 27, 2017
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 7, 2017
• First Posted (Actual): April 13, 2017

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): September 21, 2023
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 20, 2023
• Last Verified: September 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Knee Replacement; Arthroscopy; Subchondroplasty; Bone Substitute Material; Subchondral Bone Defect; AccuFill; Bone Marrow Lesion; Knee Replacement Alternative
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Joint Diseases; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Rheumatic Diseases; Arthritis; Osteoarthritis; Osteoarthritis, Knee
• Other Study ID Numbers: KC.CR.I.AM.16.1

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: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: Yes