Blood Flow Restriction Therapy Improves Tibial Plateau Fracture Recovery

The goal of this clinical trial is to investigates the effectiveness of physical therapy augmented with blood flow restriction (BFR) therapy relative to standard physical therapy in patients after an open reduction and internal fixation of a closed tibial plateau fracture.

The main aims are:

• Collect functional and patient self-reported outcomes data
• Assess leg muscle atrophy
• Acquire motion analysis dynamics and knee strength data.

Participants will be randomized into either a rehabilitation protocol or that protocol with blood flow restriction and be followed for 1 year.

Study Overview

• Status: Withdrawn
• Conditions: Tibial Plateau Fractures
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Physical Therapy; Other: Blood Flow Restriction Cuff

Detailed Description

Standardized Surveys: Participants will complete two patient reported functional outcome assessments via questionnaires, the KOOS (Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score) and the PROMIS PF (Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Physical Function). The PROMIS PF is a computer adaptive, reliable, and validated instrument used to evaluate patient-reported outcome measures regarding physical function ranging from low to very high, along with mental and social well-being. The KOOS is a knee-specific self-administered questionnaire that assesses five long-term and short-term outcomes of knee injury: pain, symptoms, activities of daily living, sport and recreation function, and knee-related quality of life.

Blood Flow Restriction Cuff: Along with standard physical therapy, three of the standardized exercises will be performed while wearing an Owens Delfi blood flow restriction cuff (Delfi Medical, San Antonio, TX). To attain partial vascular occlusion, an easy-fit nylon cuff (11.5 cm x 86 cm, 5mm thick) will be placed as proximal as possible on the patient's thigh of the involved leg. Total limb occlusion pressure will be individualized and set between 60% to 80% of the complete arterial occlusion pressure. Limb occlusive pressure will be calculated with the participants in the position for exercise to ensure accurate calculation of limb occlusive pressure. This individual approach prevents excessive pressure in individuals with lower limb occlusion pressures.

Tape Measure: A non-elastic, flexible plastic tape measure will be used. The thigh circumference will be measured at a point 15 cm proximal to the superior pole of the patella. Calf circumference will be measured at the point of greatest circumference while subjects are supine with the knee extended; subcutaneous tissues will not be compressed.

Motion Analysis: Quantitative motion analysis will be conducted at the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) Center for Motion Analysis (CMA) using a motion analysis camera system and wireless surface electromyography (EMG) electrodes to determine temporal-spatial parameters, kinematics, kinetics, and muscle activity during walking, sit-to-stand, forward lunge, and step-up-and-over tasks. A validated standardized gait model will be used.

Leg Strength Assessment: Isometric, concentric and eccentric strength will be assessed using the Biodex System 3 Pro dynamometer. Each subject will undergo bilateral leg strength testing.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Wisconsin
    • Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States, 53226
      • Medical College of Wisconsin

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Equal to or greater than 18 years of age
2. ORIF (open reduction and internal fixation) of a closed unicondylar tibial plateau fracture
3. Planning to attend physical therapy at one of the eligible Froedtert locations with BFR therapy capabilities

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Patient is unable to provide consent

2. At time of tibial plateau fracture has evidence of a(n)

   1. Open fracture(s)
   2. Fracture(s) with associated vascular injury,
   3. Fracture(s) with extensive soft tissue injury preventing the ability to apply a tourniquet
   4. Ipsilateral or contralateral lower extremity fracture(s)
   5. Pelvic or spinal trauma
3. History of deep venous thrombosis (DVT)
4. History of peripheral vascular disease
5. Body Mass Index > 40
6. Any history of condition that would affect the patient's ability to bear weight as tolerated post-operatively.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Rehabilitation Protocol; Standard physical therapy will be performed according to the clinic standard with manual lymphatic drainage, cryotherapy, and 20 minutes of physical therapy two times a week for fourteen weeks following the initial post-operative visit.	Other: Physical Therapy; Standard physical therapy
Experimental: Rehabilitation Protocol and Blood Flow Restriction; In addition to the standard physical therapy, the blood flow restriction group will also begin standard physical therapy care supplemented with blood flow restriction therapy two times a week for 10 weeks after wound healing.	Other: Physical Therapy; Standard physical therapy; Other: Blood Flow Restriction Cuff; The standardized exercises will be performed while wearing a blood flow restriction cuff.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Collect participant knee injury consequences questionnaire	Participants will complete the KOOS (Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score) questionnaire.	Prior to initiation of therapy, and 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively
Collect participant reported function outcome questionnaire	Participants will complete the PROMIS PF (Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Physical Function) questionnaire.	Prior to initiation of therapy, and 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively
Assess leg muscle atrophy	Bilateral thigh and calf circumferential girth measurements will be taken once prior to initiation of therapy and then additionally at 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively as a surrogate for muscle mass.	Prior to initiation of therapy and 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively
Acquire motion analysis dynamics	Participants will undergo 3D motion analysis with concurrent surface EMG (i.e., the electrical activity of the muscle) during walking, sit-to-stand, forward lunge, and step-up-and-over tasks.	6 and 12 months postoperatively.
Acquire knee strength data.	Bilateral knee strength (i.e., muscle force production) will be assessed for isometric, concentric and eccentric muscle contractions using a Biodex dynamometer.	6 and 12 months postoperatively.

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Medical College of Wisconsin
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Elizabeth Nolte, MD, Medical College of Wisconsin

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): December 1, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): December 1, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 31, 2028

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: July 15, 2024
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 5, 2024
• First Posted (Actual): September 19, 2024

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): November 10, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 6, 2025
• Last Verified: November 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Knee Fractures; Wounds and Injuries; Leg Injuries; Fractures, Bone; Knee Injuries; Tibial Fractures; Tibial Plateau Fractures; Therapeutics; Rehabilitation; Physical Therapy Modalities
• Other Study ID Numbers: PRO00047532

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No