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SHould You TransFer the Tubercle?

A Randomized Clinical Pilot Trial Comparing Isolated Medial Patellofemoral Ligament Reconstruction to Medial Patellofemoral Ligament Reconstruction Combined with Tibial Tubercle Osteotomy: SHould You TransFer the Tubercle (SHYFT)?

Status
Recruiting
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT05759039
Acronym
SHYFT
Enrollment
32
Registered
2023-03-08
Start date
2023-09-01
Completion date
2026-09-01
Last updated
2025-02-04

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

Conditions

Medial Patellofemoral Ligament Reconstruction, Patellofemoral Dislocation, Tibial Tubercle Osteotomy

Brief summary

The aim of this study is to investigate the role of tibial tubercle osteotomy (TTO) on the subjective and objective outcomes following medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction (MPFL-R) in patients with an increased tibial tubercle-trochlear groove (TT-TG) distance with or without patella alta. This Pilot RCT will assess the feasibility of conducting this study for: 1. The ability to recruit study patients 2. Adherence to the study protocol 3. Completion rates of patient follow-up at a minimum of 12 months post-operative

Detailed description

For patients with recurrent lateral patellofemoral instability, a medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction (MPFL-R) consistently provides significant improvements in symptoms, quality of life, and return to sport. During an MPFL-R the surgeon will place a soft tissue graft from the medial patella to the femur. The graft used to create the new MPFL can be autograft (usually hamstring tendon) or allograft. The tibial tubercle osteotomy (TTO) is a procedure designed to change the vector of the pull of the quadricep muscles by moving the insertion point of the patellar tendon. This is achieved by transferring the tendon with a block of bone to allow for consistent and reliable healing. The TTO is a versatile procedure that can move the patellar tendon insertion medially, anteriorly, or distally, or a combination of these directions. It can be used to correct a lateralized tibial tubercle or patella alta. Despite the association of an increased TT-TG distance with patellofemoral instability, it has been difficult to demonstrate a correlation with patient outcomes after patellar stabilisation surgery. In addition, studies have been unable to correlate the pre-operative presence of patella alta with clinical outcomes after MPFL-R. This randomized clinical pilot trial will randomly allocate patients with lateral patellofemoral instability and an elevated TT-TG distance with or without patella alta ato receive either an isolated MPFL-R or an MPFL-R in combination with a correcting TTO (medializing, distalizing, or a combination of both). Patients will be followed for two years post-operative with subjective outcome measures and objective clinical and functional testing. The study groups will be: 1. Isolated MPFL-R 2. MPFL-R with a TTO The primary outcome measures will be: 1. Number of study patients recruited 2. Adherence to the study protocol (number of protocol deviations) 3. Follow-up completion rates of study patients at a minimum of 12 months post-operative Secondary outcome measures include the Banff Patellar Instability Instrument 2.0 (BPII 2.0), functional testing, clinical assessment, complications, re-dislocation rate, post-operative pain scores, patient satisfaction, and patient-reported outcome scores. If feasibility is demonstrated via this Pilot RCT, a larger RCT will be designed to answer important questions on how to optimize outcomes and limit morbidity after MPFL-R.

Interventions

Medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction

Tibial tubercle osteotomy

Sponsors

Canadian Orthopaedic Foundation
CollaboratorOTHER
CONMED Corporation
CollaboratorINDUSTRY
Banff Sport Medicine Foundation
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE (Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
13 Years to 30 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Age 13-30 years * Symptomatic recurrent lateral patellofemoral instability * TT-TG ≥15mm measured on MRI or ≥18mm on CT scan * Closed physes (confirmed on knee x-rays)

Exclusion criteria

* Caton-Deschamps ratio ≥ 1.4 on lateral radiographs * Femoral anteversion ≥ 25 degrees on diagnostic imaging rotational profile * Tibial external rotation ≥ 45 degrees on diagnostic imaging rotational profile * High-grade trochlear dysplasia requiring trochleoplasty * Significant osteoarthritis on skyline plain imaging (Kellgren Lawrence grade ≥ 2) * A chondral lesion of the patellofemoral joint that is undergoing a cartilage restoration procedure. * Unable to complete computer-based outcome questionnaires * Pregnant (at time of surgery)

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Study Feasibility - patient recruitment12-months post-operativeNumber of study patients recruited
Study Feasibility - protocol adherence12-months post-operativeAdherence to the study protocol (total number of protocol deviations)
Study Feasibility - follow-up completion12-months post-operativeNumber of patients completing follow-up a minimum of 12 months post-operative

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Complications6-, 12- & 24-months post-operativeRate of post-operative complications including infection, blood clots, reduced range of motion, persistent pain, persistent swelling, and re-dislocations
Banff Patellofemoral Instability Instrument (BPII 2.0)Baseline, and 6-,12- & 24-months post-operativeDisease-specific patient-reported outcome measure that assesses quality of life across 5 domains. Scored out of 100, with 100 representing the maximum score for disease-specific quality of life.
Patient satisfaction12- & 24-months post-operativeMeasured on a 5-point Likert scale A 5-point patient satisfaction scale measures patient happiness with healthcare services, ranging from 5 (very satisfied) to 1 (very dissatisfied).
Post-operative Knee Pain6-, 12- & 24-months post-operativePost-operative pain score measured on a 10-point visual analogue scale The Pain VAS is anchored by 0, which corresponds to no pain, and 10, which corresponds to the worst possible pain.
Functional Outcomes - Hop Testing6-, 12- & 24-months post-operativeLimb Symmetry Index on 4 single-leg hop test battery (assessed as percentage score operative / non-operative limb)
Patellar Apprehension Test6-, 12- & 24-months post-operativeRate of positive patellar apprehension

Countries

Canada

Contacts

Primary ContactLaurie A Hiemstra, MD, PhD
hiemstra@banffsportmed.ca403 760 2897
Backup ContactSarah Kerslake, BPhty
sarah@banffsportmed.ca403 760 2897

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026