The Best Method for ACL Reconstruction.

July 9, 2019 updated by: Lars Konradsen

The Best Method for ACL Reconstruction. A Study Comparing Reconstructions of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Using Grafts Taken From Three Different Anatomical Locations at the Knee and Thigh. A Randomized Clinical Trial

The investigators wish to compare 3 methods for reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament using 3 different grafts: bone-patella tendon-bone, hamstrings and iliotibial tract graft, as these methods influence the muscles around the knee differently. Methods using bone-patella tendon-bone and hamstrings are performed as standard operations, and the use of the iliotibial tract graft using a new method of reconstruction.

The purpose is:

  1. To assess whether one of three different grafts used for reconstruction of the ACL shows superior results compared to the others in relation to mechanical stability and re-rupture rates.
  2. To assess whether one of three different methods for reconstruction of the ACL shows superior results compared to the others in subjective patient outcome measures.
  3. To assess whether one of three different methods for reconstruction of the ACL shows superior results compared to the others when considering specific symptoms and complications that can be related to donor-site morbidity.
  4. To assess whether one of three different methods for reconstruction of the ACL shows superior results compared to the others when considering muscular power, muscle coordination, and function.

Study Overview

Detailed Description

The purpose of the study is described in the "Brief Summary" section.

Patients scheduled for ACL reconstruction at the Section of Arthroscopic Surgery and Sports Traumatology M51, Department of Orthopedics, Bispebjerg-Frederiksberg Hospital are eligible for this study Eligibility criteria are described in the "Eligibility" section.

The patients are scheduled for ACL surgery at consultation with a doctor from the Section of Arthroscopic Surgery and Sports Traumatology after usual, clinical criteria. The doctor informs the patient about the project, gives the patient the written patient information, and if the patient shows interest in the study, an appointment is scheduled with one of the surgeons involved in the project.

At this appointment the patient is informed about the project by the surgeon. The patients will be granted the reflection time they need before consenting or rejecting.

Before the day of surgery muscle power, muscle coordination and functional tests are performed, and objective tests and PROMs are completed.

Surgery is performed by one of two surgeons experienced in all three methods of surgery as described in the "Arms and Interventions" section.

After the patient is put under general anaesthesia the method of ACL reconstruction is chosen by opening a sealed envelope.

Outcome measures are recorded at 1-year and 2-year follow-up.

All three methods of reconstruction are believed to have the same risk for basic complications: infection (approx. 1%), stiffening of the knee (approx. 2%) and deep venous thrombosis (approx. 1 %)

It is assumed that a 20% difference in a patient reported outcome score (KNEES-ACL) represents a clinically relevant difference. Based on standard deviations for the outcome score, and with a 90% power, significant differences of 20 % can be shown in a sample of 20 patients. Significance level is set at 5%. The investigators aim for 30 patients in each group, considering potential drop-outs.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Anticipated)

90

Phase

  • 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

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

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 40 years (ADULT)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Patients with an ACL rupture scheduled for ACL reconstruction after clinical investigation by an orthopedic specialist at the Section of Sports Traumatology M51.
  • Age 18-40 years.
  • Patients able to understand given information in relation to the study and to complete out-come questionnaires.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Patient activity (sports or work) that excludes one or more of the three methods of surgery, e.g. work predominantly performed kneeling would exclude the use of the BPTBG.
  • Other ligament injuries (except non-surgically treated lesion of MCL - medial collateral ligament) to the same knee or ligament injury (except non-surgically treated lesion of MCL - medial collateral ligament) to the contralateral knee
  • Conditions in either knee with pain of such intensity, that participation in the functional tests of this study are impossible.
  • Auto-immune disease that involves lower limb joints or muscles.
  • Local or systemic infection.
  • Actual or previous systemic corticosteroid, chemotherapeutic, or immunosuppressive treatment.
  • BMI>30.

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: TREATMENT
  • Allocation: RANDOMIZED
  • Interventional Model: PARALLEL
  • Masking: DOUBLE

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
ACTIVE_COMPARATOR: ACL-reconstruction hamstrings
ACL reconstruction hamstrings

HG reconstruction is performed according to the standard procedure of the department:

A double semi-Tendinosus and gracillis graft is used. Placement of the bony tunnels is anatomical, and the femoral tunnel is positioned through the antero-medial portal. Fixation proximally is by CL-endobutton and at the tibia by Intrafix sheet and screw

ACTIVE_COMPARATOR: ACL-reconstruction patella tendon
ACL reconstruction patella tendon

PTBG reconstruction is performed according to the standard procedure of the department:

A bone patella tendon bone graft of 1 cm width from the midportion of the tendon is used. Placement of the bony tunnels is anatomical, the femoral being positioned through the antero-medial portal. Fixation proximally and distally is by interference screws.

ACTIVE_COMPARATOR: ACL-reconstruction iliotibial tract
ACL reconstruction iliotibial tract

TIFLG reconstruction is performed as follows:

The TIFL graft is harvested using two lateral incisions. The graft is left attached to the distal iliotibial tract. Placement of the bony tunnels is anatomical, the femoral being drilled outside-in. The tibial drill tunnel is made by retrograde drilling 20 mm, leaving cortical bone at the distal end of the tunnel. Fixation distally is by CL-endobutton or interference screw and on femur by an interference screw outside-in.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in KNEES-ACL score
Time Frame: pre-op, 1 year, 2 years
patient-reported outcome measure
pre-op, 1 year, 2 years

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in anterior-posterior stability (quantified by Rolimeter)
Time Frame: pre-op, 1 year, 2 years
Measure of anterio-posterior laxity
pre-op, 1 year, 2 years
Change in graded pivot shift
Time Frame: pre-op, 1 year, 2 years
Subluxation of the tibia relative to the femur
pre-op, 1 year, 2 years
Change in muscle strength and forward lunge ability
Time Frame: pre-op, 1 year, 2 years
Result of muscle power and muscle coordination tests
pre-op, 1 year, 2 years

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Investigators

  • Study Director: Michael Krogsgaard, Head of section

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)

February 1, 2017

Primary Completion (ANTICIPATED)

December 1, 2019

Study Completion (ANTICIPATED)

December 1, 2021

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

April 27, 2017

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 19, 2017

First Posted (ACTUAL)

June 20, 2017

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (ACTUAL)

July 11, 2019

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 9, 2019

Last Verified

July 1, 2019

More Information

Terms related to this study

Other Study ID Numbers

  • BBH-ACL-1

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

UNDECIDED

IPD Plan Description

Yes

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

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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