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Tension Band Versus Locking Plate Fixation for the Treatment of Patella Fractures

TENSION BAND VERSUS LOCKING PLATE FIXATION FOR THE TREATMENT OF PATELLA FRACTURE - a High Quality, Multicenter, Randomized Clinical Trial

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT04891549
Acronym
TENPLA
Enrollment
122
Registered
2021-05-18
Start date
2021-09-01
Completion date
2025-09-30
Last updated
2026-01-15

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Patella Fracture, Surgery, Orthopedic Disorder

Keywords

patella fracture, surgery, Tension band, Plate

Brief summary

This study is a multicenter pragmatic, prospective, assessor-blinded, randomized independent clinical trial in which we compare locking plate fixation to standard tension band fixation in patients with patella fractures.

Detailed description

This study is a multicenter pragmatic, prospective, assessor-blinded, randomized independent clinical trial in which we compare locking plate fixation to standard tension band fixation in patients with patella fractures. Primary objective The overall objective of the study is to compare the 1-year patient-reported Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS5) after standard tension band fixation with locking plat fixation for patients with patella fractures. Secondary objectives Several other analyses are of interest and are planned but are not objectives of this study. Therefore, these analyses will, for the major part, hypothesis-generating. Analyses of this type include, but are not limited to harms, muscle atrophy, pain, general health, gait function, time to return to work and economical consequences between the two groups.

Interventions

PROCEDURETension band fixation

Fracture fixation of the patella fracture with tension band.

Fracture fixation of the patella fracture with a plate.

Sponsors

Aarhus University Hospital
CollaboratorOTHER
Randers Regional Hospital
CollaboratorOTHER
Regional Hospital Hjoerring
CollaboratorUNKNOWN
Regional Hospital Kolding
CollaboratorUNKNOWN
Viborg Regional Hospital
CollaboratorOTHER
Rasmus Elsøe
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
TRIPLE (Subject, Caregiver, Outcomes Assessor)

Masking description

Due to the surgical nature of the study the surgeon can not be blinded. The outcome assessor, patients and care providers will be blinded with regards to the two treatment groups.

Intervention model description

This study is a multicenter pragmatic, prospective, assessor-blinded, randomized independent clinical trial

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Above 18 years of age * Patella fracture suitable for surgically treatment, with both surgical methods * AO classification 34-B, 34-C

Exclusion criteria

* Open patella fracture above Gustillo grade 2 * Bilateral patella fracture * Total knee replacement in the affected extremity * Other fractures of the affected extremity within the previous 12 months. * Other reasons for exclusion (unable to understand Danish, mentally unable to participate, etc). * Prior ipsilateral patella fracture

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score - (KOOS5)One year following treatmentThe Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) 29 is a standardised patient-reported questionnaire developed to evaluate knee problems. The questionnaire includes five subscales: pain, ADL, symptoms, sport and QOL and an overall score KOOS 5 subscales.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score - (KOOS5)3- and 6 monthsThe Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) 29 is a standardised patient-reported questionnaire developed to evaluate knee problems. The questionnaire includes five subscales: pain, ADL, symptoms, sport and QOL and an overall score KOOS5 can be calculated. A total score of 100 indicates no symptoms, and 0 indicates major symptoms.
Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score - subscales: pain, ADL, symptoms, sport and QOL.3-, 6- and 12-monthsThe Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) 29 is a standardised patient-reported questionnaire developed to evaluate knee problems. The questionnaire includes five subscales: pain, ADL, symptoms, sport and QOL and an overall score KOOS5 can be calculated. A total score of 100 indicates no symptoms, and 0 indicates major symptoms.
EQ-5D-5L questionnaire (5-level version)3-, 6- and 12-monthsGeneral health will be assessed using EQ-5D-5L questionnaire (5-level version), both the descriptive index and the EQ-VAS. It consists of five dimensions: Mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression, and a self-rated health scale on a 20 cm vertical, visual analogue scale with endpoints labelled 'the best health you can imagine' and 'the worst health you can imagine'. An Eq5d-5L index of 1.0 indicated full health, 0 death, and -0.59 denoted a condition worse than death.
Pain intensity measured on a 10 cm VAS scale3-, 6- and 12-monthsDevelopment in pain will be recorded by patient-reported pain intensity measured on a 10 cm visual analogue scale (VAS) with endpoints no pain and maximal pain for the worst pain during the last 24 hours and resting pain.
PainDETECT questionnaire3-, 6- and 12-monthsKnee pain and neuropathic pain will be assessed using the PainDETECT questionnaire. The PainDETECT screening questionnaire uses a scoring method between 1-38. A total score of 1 indicates no symptoms, and 38 indicates major symptoms.
Maximum isometric knee-extension strength12-monthsMaximum isometric knee-extension strength at 60 degrees knee flexion measured as Nm/kg body mass. Will be measured bilaterally by a strap-mounted dynamometer attached to the wall (Mecmesin AFG2500, Mecmesin Ltd, West Sussex, UK)
Maximum isometric knee-flexion strength12-monthsMaximum isometric knee-flexion strength at 90 degrees knee flexion measured as Nm/kg body mass. Will be measured bilaterally by a strap-mounted dynamometer attached to the wall (Mecmesin AFG2500, Mecmesin Ltd, West Sussex, UK)
Knee range of motion3-, 6- and 12-monthsKnee range of motion. With the patient supine on an examination table the full range of passive motion in both knee joints will be measured using a standard goniometer.
Time to return to work3-, 6- and 12-monthsMeasure the time from surgery to end of sick leave measured in days
Bone union3-, 6- and 12-monthsBone union, will be evaluated on standard AP and side X-rays of the fractured patella. The evaluation of bone union will be defined as: i) visible callus formation, diminished no visible fracture line and no pain from the fracture site at weight-bearing and at clinical examination.

Other

MeasureTime frameDescription
Harms3-, 6- and 12-monthsAdverse events, defined as any negative or unwanted reactions to the two groups will be recorded. Based on previous reports we will focus on: infection, DVT and re-operation. Patients are continuously requested to report any suspicion of a potential AE. Furthermore, adverse events (AE) will be recorded at 3-, 6- and 12-months follow-up by asking patients about potential AEs using open-probe questioning to ensure that all AEs are recorded. Furthermore, medical records will be checked at the primary endpoint (12 months) for all AEs occurring from inclusion until the 12 months follow-up. An AE is defined as any undesirable experience during follow-up leading to contact with the healthcare system (general practitioner or hospital). If an AE result in hospitalization, prolonged inpatient hospital care, result in re-surgery, or if an AE is life-threatening, result in death, permanent disability or damage, they will be categorized as serious adverse events (SAEs).

Countries

Denmark

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 6, 2026