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N/A N=24 Randomized Single-blind Treatment

Effects of Unloader Bracing in Clinical Outcome and Cartilage Physiology Following Microfracture of Chondral Defects

Cartilage Loss · Microfracture

Enrolled (actual)
24
Serious AEs
0.0%
Results posted
Jun 2019
Primary outcome: Primary: Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) (Clinical Outcome) — 12.0; 4.1; 19.1; 8.1 units on a scale — p=0.162

Study Design & Population

Study type
Interventional
Phase
N/A
Interventions
Unloader Bracing (Device); Non-Bracing (Device)
Age
Pediatric, Adult · 15+ yrs
Sex
All
Sponsor
Stanford University
Primary completion
Jun 2018

Outcome Measures

OutcomeResultp-value
PRIMARY
Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) (Clinical Outcome)
12.0; 4.1; 19.1; 8.1; 17.8; 4.6 0.162
SECONDARY
Change From Baseline in Tegner Score (Clinical Outcome)
1.7; 0.9; 2.7; 1.9; 2.3; 1.4 0.387
SECONDARY
Change From Baseline in SF-12 Quality of Life Score (Clinical Outcome)
2.2; 2.9; 2.4; 2.3; 0.8; 2.1 0.729
SECONDARY
Change From Baseline in Lysholm Score (Clinical Outcome)
14.3; 11.1; 25.7; 20.3; 20.3; 18.8 0.733
SECONDARY
Change From Baseline in T2 Relaxation Time (Radiographic Outcome)
-24.5; -36.2; -25.1; -17.6 0.774
SECONDARY
Change From Baseline in Cartilage Volume (Radiographic Outcome)
31.4; -2.1; 49.2; 17.8 0.064
SECONDARY
Change From Baseline in Cartilage Thickness (Radiographic Outcome)
0.3; -0.2; 0.3; 0.1 0.020 sig

Summary

The study will examine clinical and radiographic outcomes of microfracture surgery (a common technique to address isolated areas of cartilage loss) in the knee used with or without unloader bracing. Randomly selected patients will wear an unloader brace, which is designed to take pressure off the area of the knee which underwent repair, for several weeks after surgery. Our hypothesis is that bracing may improve clinical and or radiographic outcomes. The surgery performed will be the same for all patients The length of follow up and schedule of post-operative MRI will be the same for all patients. The only difference in groups will be presence of absence of brace wear.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

  • isolated chondral defect of medial or lateral femoral condyle 2cm squared or less
  • age 15-40
  • neutral knee alignment

Exclusion Criteria

  • prior cartilage procedures performed in the same knee
  • other significant knee pathology including meniscus tears, ligament tears or inflammatory arthritis
View full record on ClinicalTrials.gov →

Data sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02016300). Outcome figures and adverse-event rates are extracted automatically from the registry's posted results and are provided for clinician reference, not as a substitute for the primary publication.

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