Infrapatellar Fat Pad Excision in Total Knee Arthroplasty

To examine whether removing the infrapatellar fat pad from the knee during total knee arthroplasty affects the patient outcome in terms of pain and knee function following the procedure. Currently there is no consensus on whether removing this tissue from the knee has a positive or detrimental effect. Small studies have been published, some showing improved symptoms and some worse symptoms. Current practice of orthopaedic surgeons is either to routinely remove or routinely retain the tissue when performing total knee arthroplasty.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Arthroplasty Complications; Knee Discomfort
• Intervention / Treatment: Procedure: Removal of infrapatellar fat pad; Procedure: No removal of infrapatellar fat pad

Detailed Description

Aim and Objectives The aim of the study is to examine whether removing or retaining the infrapatellar fat pad influences pain or knee function in the short and medium term.

Study Design A single centre randomized controlled trial of total knee arthroplasty with and without infrapatellar fat pad excision

Methodology A research nurse or the responsible consultant orthopaedic surgeon will identify potentially eligible patients from the list of those invited to attend the pre-operative assessment clinic for total knee arthroplasty. As part of their written invitation to attend this clinic, they will receive an information leaflet about the study from their consultant.

A research nurse or the responsible consultant orthopaedic surgeon will discuss the trial with them at the pre-assessment clinic. If the patient is willing to take part in the study they would then be asked to sign a consent form and will be reminded of the opportunity to withdraw from the study at any point. Their consent will be confirmed on the day of their admission for surgery.

Consented patients will be randomized to one of two arms of the study, the only variable being whether or not the infrapatellar fat pad is excised.

Randomisation to excision or retention of the infrapatellar fat pad will occur immediately prior to the total knee arthroplasty procedure being performed, and will be performed using the program freely available at http://www.randomization.com. Sealed envelopes will be prepared and the operating surgeon will open the randomisation envelope immediately before performing the total knee arthroplasty procedure. The procedure will then be performed and recorded. The excision of the infrapatellar fat pad itself takes less than 20 seconds to perform, and the knee replacement procedure is otherwise performed as normal. The outcome of the randomisation and procedure performed will be known only to the operating surgeon and researcher and not to those following up the patients and recording the outcome measures.

Seven consultant orthopaedic surgeons will take part in the trial. All perform total knee arthroplasty surgery regularly . Other than the consent process and additional questionnaires and clinical assessment performed, the care of patients in the study will be identical to all other non-study patients. Follow up will follow our normal routine pathway of visits at 3 months, 1 year and 2 years.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Anticipated): 256
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Mairiosa Biddle, MBBS. MRCS.; Phone Number: 07743410129; Email: Mairiosa.Biddle@ggc.scot.nhs.uk
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Nick Kane; Email: Nicholas.Kane@ggc.scot.nhs.uk

Study Locations

• United Kingdom
  • Scotland
    • Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom, G51 4TF
      • Recruiting
      • NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. Queen Elizabeth hospital (Victoria & Gartnavel)
      • Contact: Nicolas Kane; Email: Nicholas.Kane@ggc.scot.nhs.uk

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 40 years to 100 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Male/female patients between 40 and 100 years of age
• Undergoing primary total knee arthroplasty

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patient undergoing unicompartmental knee arthroplasty
• Patient undergoing revision knee arthroplasty
• Patient undergoing arthroplasty using non standard implants
• Previous patella surgery or injury
• Cognitive impairment
• Lack of conversational English

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Removal of infrapatellar fat pad; When patients will have their fat pad removed.	Procedure: Removal of infrapatellar fat pad; There is no agreed protocol for retaining or excising the infrapatellar fat pad with many surgeons routinely completely removing the fat pad to improve view of the proximal tibia while others opt to retain or minimally excise the tissue. We are aware of no risks involved in performing this procedure and current practice of many orthopaedic surgeons is either to routinely remove or routinely retain the infrapatellar fat pad when performing total knee arthroplasty. The potential benefits are that we will understand better whether removing or retaining this tissue does have a role in influencing outcomes after total knee replacement surgery. The results will be disseminated to the wider orthopaedic community to inform practice with the aim or improving outcomes from total knee arthroplasty.
Placebo Comparator: No removal of infrapatellar fat pad; When patients will not have their fat pad removed.	Procedure: No removal of infrapatellar fat pad; Retaining the infrapatellar fat pad during total knee replacement- no surgical removal.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Knee pain	As assessed by patient reported outcome scores: Oxford knee score (0-48) Higher score better outcome.	3 months post-operatively
Knee pain	As assessed by patient reported outcome scores: Oxford knee score (0-48) Higher score better outcome.	1 year post-operatively
Knee pain	As assessed by patient reported outcome scores: Oxford knee score (0-48) Higher score better outcome.	2 years post-operatively
Knee pain (Anterior)	As assessed by patient reported outcome scores: Kujala score (0-100) Higher score better outcome.	3 months post-operatively
Knee pain (Anterior)	As assessed by patient reported outcome scores: Kujala score (0-100) Higher score better outcome.	1 year post-operatively
Knee pain (Anterior)	As assessed by patient reported outcome scores: Kujala score (0-100) Higher score better outcome.	2 years post-operatively
Knee function	As assessed by patient reported outcome scores: Oxford knee score (0-48) Higher score better outcome.	3 months post-operatively
Knee function	As assessed by patient reported outcome scores: Oxford knee score (0-48) Higher score better outcome.	1 year post-operatively
Knee function	As assessed by patient reported outcome scores: Oxford knee score (0-48) Higher score better outcome.	2 years post-operatively

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Knee Range of Movement- flexion and extension in degrees	Measured in degrees with goniometer	3 months post-operatively
Knee Range of Movement- flexion and extension in degrees	Measured in degrees with goniometer	1 year post-operatively
Knee Range of Movement- flexion and extension in degrees	Measured in degrees with goniometer	2 years post-operatively
Shortening of patellar tendon- comparison between X-ray at 3 months with pre-operative X-ray	Measured on X-ray in millimeters	3 months post-operatively
Shortening of patellar tendon- comparison between X-ray at 1 year with pre-operative X-ray	Measured on X-ray in millimeters	1 year post-operatively
Shortening of patellar tendon- comparison between X-ray at 2 years with pre-operative X-ray	Measured on X-ray in millimeters	2 years post-operatively

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
• Investigators: Study Director: Simon Spencer, MBBS. FRCS., NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Board HQ

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): August 31, 2021
• Primary Completion (Anticipated): August 31, 2024
• Study Completion (Anticipated): August 31, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: September 15, 2021
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 18, 2021
• First Posted (Actual): September 29, 2021

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): October 13, 2021
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 5, 2021
• Last Verified: September 1, 2021

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID Numbers: 299830

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