Plain English Summary
Unstable ankle fractures are most commonly managed with surgery using plates and screws. There can be complications related principally to wound healing and infection, and prominent metalwork. In patients with poor skin condition, such as those aged over 65, and diabetics, an alternative device, the fibular nail, has been shown to achieve reduction and stability with a lower rate of such complications. The aim of this study was to compare the outcome of fibular nail with plate fixation for unstable fractures of the ankle in a younger cohort of patients.
Background and study aims
Ankle fractures are common injuries. When the fracture is unstable it requires surgery, and the most common way to fix the bones is with plates and screws. There can be problems from the wound and the plate. In this study, the investigators aimed to compare this established technique with a newer alternative: the use of a fibular nail which avoids both potential problems.
Who can participate?
Adult patients with unstable ankle fractures
What does the study involve?
Participants will be randomly allocated to one of two groups. One group will have standard fixation surgery using plates and screws. The other will have fixation surgery using the fibular nail.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Participants in the fibular nail group may have a lower rate of wound- and metalwork-related complications. They will, however, still have an operation and therefore there will inevitably still be a small risk of surgical and anaesthetic complications.
Where is the study run from?
Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh (UK)
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
May 2010 to March 2015
Who is funding the study?
Scottish Orthopaedic Research Trust - into trauma (SORT-it) (UK)
Who is the main contact?
Mr Tim White, tim.white@nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk
Trial website
Contact information
Type
Scientific
Primary contact
Mr Tim White
ORCID ID
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6125-7112
Contact details
Orthopaedic Trauma Service
Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh
Edinburgh
EH9 4SU
United Kingdom
+44 (0)131 242 3435
twhite@rcsed.ac.uk
Additional identifiers
EudraCT number
Nil known
ClinicalTrials.gov number
Nil known
Protocol/serial number
IRAS 88616
Study information
Scientific title
A prospective, randomised, controlled, multicentre, international trial comparing the fibular nail with open reduction and internal fixation for unstable ankle fractures in younger patients
Acronym
Study hypothesis
There is no difference in outcome, as measured by Olerud and Mollander Ankle Score at 1 year, between standard open reduction and internal fixation, and fibular nailing, of unstable ankle fractures. This is an extension of a study examining outcomes using the same procedure in elderly patients only (see https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27587528/ ).
Ethics approval
1. Initial study in elderly subjects approved 07/04/2005, Lothian Local Research Ethics Committee 02 (Deaconess House, 148 Pleasance, Edinburgh, EH8 9RS; +44 (0)131 536 9000; no email), ref: 05/S1102/02
2. Amended 07/11/2006, Lothian Local Research Ethics Committee 02 (Deaconess House, 148 Pleasance, Edinburgh, EH8 9RS; +44 (0)131 536 9000; lyndsay.baird@lhb.scot.nhs.uk), ref: 05/S1102/02
3. Amended to enable recruitment of younger participants 04/03/2010, NHS Lothian R&D Office (Room E1.12, Queen's Medical Research Institute, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 4TJ; +44 (0)131 242 3330; R&DOffice@luht.scot.nhs.uk), ref: 05/S1102/02, 2010/R/OP/01
4. Approved, Danish Ethics Committee, ref: H-4-2011-141
Study design
Randomized controlled two-centre clinical trial
Primary study design
Interventional
Secondary study design
Randomised controlled trial
Trial setting
Hospitals
Trial type
Treatment
Patient information sheet
See additional files
Condition
Surgical stabilisation of ankle fractures
Intervention
Participants were randomly allocated to the control or intervention arms using sealed opaque envelope allocation with a ratio of 1:1 in batches of 20.
Control: Open reduction and internal fixation was performed in the standard manner with plates and screws.
Intervention:Fibular nailing was performed according to the manufacturer’s instructions and the investigators' previously published technique (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22844054 ).
Duration of treatment: Surgical procedure performed within a week of injury and surgery lasts around 1 h. Moon-boot orthosis worn for 6 weeks.
Follow-up: Clinical, functional and radiological assessments were carried out at 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year and 2 years post-randomisation. Complications and the need for further surgery was recorded at each visit. Complications were defined as superficial or deep wound infections, loss of fracture reduction, symptomatic metalwork requiring removal, onset of neurological symptoms and/or signs following surgery, and further surgery for any cause. Superficial infections were defined as an infection that resolved with antibiotics and required no surgical intervention. Deep infections were defined as requiring a return to theatre for surgical debridement with or without subsequent removal of metalwork. Late removal of symptomatic metalwork was performed for prominence, pain and discomfort at the patient’s request only.
Intervention type
Device
Phase
Not Applicable
Drug names
Acumed fibular nail
Primary outcome measure
Ankle symptoms after ankle fracture assessed using the Olerud-Molander Ankle Score core (OMAS) at 1 year
Secondary outcome measures
Complications assessed by follow-up examination at 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year and 2 years post-randomisation
Overall trial start date
04/05/2010
Overall trial end date
10/03/2015
Reason abandoned (if study stopped)
Eligibility
Participant inclusion criteria
1. Aged ≥18 to <65 years
2. Unstable fracture of the ankle
3. Within 2 weeks of fracture
4. No ipsilateral injury to the lower limb
Participant type
Patient
Age group
Adult
Gender
Both
Target number of participants
125
Participant exclusion criteria
1. Patients unable to give informed consent or those with cognitive impairment
2. Bilateral injuries or ipsilateral injury to the lower limb
3. Pilon fractures
4. Patients unable to comply with follow-up
Recruitment start date
18/09/2011
Recruitment end date
24/02/2013
Locations
Countries of recruitment
Denmark, United Kingdom
Trial participating centre
Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh
Little France
Edinburgh
EH16 4SU
United Kingdom
Trial participating centre
Hvidovre University Hospital
Copenhagen
2650
Denmark
Sponsor information
Organisation
NHS Lothian
Sponsor details
Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh
Edinburgh
EH16 4SU
United Kingdom
+44 (0)131 242 1000
enquiries@accord.sco
Sponsor type
University/education
Website
Funders
Funder type
Research organisation
Funder name
Scottish Orthopaedic Research Trust into Trauma (SORT-it)
Alternative name(s)
Funding Body Type
Funding Body Subtype
Location
Results and Publications
Publication and dissemination plan
For publication in a prominent orthopaedic journal.
IPD sharing statement:
The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are not expected to be made available due to conditions pertaining at the ethical approval stage.
Intention to publish date
01/08/2020
Participant level data
Not expected to be available
Basic results (scientific)
Publication list
Publication citations
Additional files
- ISRCTN54687269_PIS_v4_17Aug2009.pdf uploaded 15/05/2020