Get them moving early: sling immobilisation following arthroscopic anterior shoulder stabilisation offers no advantage

ISRCTN ISRCTN13628010
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN13628010
Secondary identifying numbers 10/S0802/39
Submission date
07/08/2017
Registration date
10/08/2017
Last edited
02/12/2019
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Completed
Condition category
Surgery
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data
Record updated in last year

Plain English summary of protocol

Background and study aims
Arthroscopic shoulder stabilisation is a commonly performed operation to treat recurrent dislocation of the shoulder. There is lack of agreement about rehabilitation after arthroscopic shoulder stabilisation surgery, with most surgeons recommending immobilisation of the shoulder for three to six weeks after surgery to allow the ligaments to heal and prevent recurrence. However, one of the risks of prolonged immobilisation is residual shoulder stiffness. Advocates of early mobilisation argue that there is no apparent increased risk of recurrence and excess stiffness is avoided. It also permits early strengthening and exercises. The aim of this study is to assess the recurrence rate and shoulder function of patients after arthroscopic stabilisation of the shoulder with two different rehabilitation regimes.

Who can participate?
Patients with recurrent shoulder instability undergoing arthroscopic anterior shoulder stabilisation

What does the study involve?
On the day of surgery, participants are randomly allocated to either the early mobilisation (EM) or sling immobilisation (SI) group. The EM group is immediately allowed to move the shoulder freely as pain allows. The SI Group is kept in a sling for 6 weeks. All participants are followed up at 6 weeks, 3, 6, 12 and 24 months to assess their shoulder function and to find out whether the surgery has worked or not.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
The results will show which rehabilitation programme is best for patients undergoing arthroscopic shoulder stabilisation surgery. Possible benefits of early mobilisation include reduced risk of stiffness and increased proprioception (the body's ability to sense joint movement and position). The risk of early mobilisation is the theoretical risk of the surgical repair failing.

Where is the study run from?
Woodend General Hospital (UK)

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
August 2010 to August 2015

Who is funding the study?
NHS Grampian R&D (UK)

Who is the main contact?
Mr Sriskandarasa Senthilkumaran

Contact information

Mr Sriskandarasa Senthilkumaran
Scientific

Department of Orthopaedics
Woodend General Hospital
Eday Road
Aberdeen
AB15 6XS
United Kingdom

ORCiD logoORCID ID 0000-0002-7043-5339

Study information

Study designSingle-centre single-blind randomised control trial
Primary study designInterventional
Secondary study designRandomised controlled trial
Study setting(s)Hospital
Study typeTreatment
Participant information sheet Not available in web format, please use the contact details to request a patient information sheet
Scientific titleRandomised control study to compare sling immobilisation with early mobilisation in patients undergoing arthroscopic anterior shoulder stabilisation surgery
Study objectivesThere should be no difference in the recurrence rate and shoulder function between the sling immobilisation and early mobilisation groups.
Ethics approval(s)NHS Grampian R&D, 30/06/2010, ref: 10/S0802/39
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studiedArthroscopic anterior shoulder stabilisation for instability
InterventionOn the day of surgery, participants were randomised using sealed envelopes to either early mobilisation (EM) or sling immobilisation (SI) group. The EM group was allowed to move the shoulder freely as pain allowed immediately. The SI Group was kept in a sling for 6 weeks. All patients were followed up at 6 weeks, 3, 6, 12 and 24 months. Their function and failure of surgery were assessed using Oxford Shoulder Instability Score (OSIS).
Intervention typeOther
Primary outcome measureFailure of surgery, defined as subluxation or redislocation at 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, 12 months and 24 months
Secondary outcome measuresShoulder instability, assessed using the Oxford Shoulder Instability Score at pre-op, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, 12 months and 24 months
Overall study start date01/08/2010
Completion date30/08/2015

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Patient
Age groupAdult
SexBoth
Target number of participants60 but stopped after 28
Key inclusion criteria1. Patients with recurrent instability who had a Bankart lesion
2. Deemed suitable clinically and radiologically for an arthroscopic anterior shoulder stabilisation
3. No restriction on age
Key exclusion criteria1. Patients with previous failed stabilisation, multi-directional instability or posterior instability
2. Patients who were unwilling to participate
Date of first enrolment25/08/2010
Date of final enrolment10/07/2013

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • Scotland
  • United Kingdom

Study participating centre

Woodend General Hospital
93 Eday Road
Aberdeen
AB15 6XS
United Kingdom

Sponsor information

NHS Grampian R&D
Hospital/treatment centre

Aberdeen Royal Infirmary
Foresterhill
Aberdeen
AB25 2ZN
Scotland
United Kingdom

ROR logo "ROR" https://ror.org/00ma0mg56

Funders

Funder type

Hospital/treatment centre

NHS Grampian R&D

No information available

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date30/06/2020
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareYes
IPD sharing plan summaryAvailable on request
Publication and dissemination planThe trialists are hoping to submit the study to a journal as soon as it is registered.
IPD sharing planThe anonymised dataset will be available for review but not for sharing with other institutions as consent was not obtained for this. The data is kept by Mr Sriskandarasa Senthilkumaran and Mr Kapil Kumar (principal investigator for the study). Consent from participants was obtained for analysis.

Editorial Notes

02/12/2019: The intention to publish date has been changed from 08/11/2017 to 30/06/2020.
26/11/2019: No publications found, verifying study status with principal investigator.