Plain English Summary
Background and Study Aims
Most leg ulcers are caused by problems with the veins in the legs and treatment involves wearing firm compression bandages which squeeze the legs and help blood flow to the heart. Unfortunately, some ulcers can be problematic and may persist for months or even years despite being treated with the gold standard treatment of compression bandages. Therefore there is a need to find more ways of helping these problematic ulcers to heal.
Intermittent Pneumatic Compression (or IPC) is another way of compressing legs to try and improve the circulation. The IPCOTT study aims to find out if a new IPC device, known as the WoundExpressTM, can help to heal leg ulcers.
Who can take part?
Most people who have a leg ulcer that is caused by problems with the veins (but not the arteries) will be eligible to take part.
What does the study involve?
Upon entry to the study, participants will be randomly allocated to one of two groups. Group A will be provided with an IPC (WoundExpress) device to use in their home environment for 2 hours daily for the 16-week duration of the study (in addition to continuing to receive their standard wound care). Group B will continue to receive their usual wound care for the 16-week duration of the study. Throughout the 16-week study period, participants will be invited to attend their wound clinic once every two weeks where their leg ulcer and general health will be reassessed.
What are the possible risks and benefits of taking part?
Use of the IPC device may possibly help to reduce the size of leg ulcers and may lessen any ulcer related pain. It is hoped that the information that is gained from this study will help to improve future treatments of patients with leg ulcers.
There are currently no known side-effects associated with the use of the IPC (WoundExpress) device.
Where is the study run from?
1. The Welsh Wound Innovation Centre (UK)
2. Accelerate CIC (UK)
3. St. Maria Hilf Krankenhaus (Germany)
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
From November 2019 to June 2022
Who is funding the study?
1. Huntleigh Healthcare
2. The Accelerate programme which is co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund, through the Welsh Government
Who is the main contact for the study?
Mrs Nicky Ivins
nicky.ivins@wwic.wales
Trial website
Contact information
Type
Scientific
Primary contact
Dr Jane Davies
ORCID ID
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9409-8605
Contact details
35 Portmanmoor Road
Cardiff
Cardiff
CF24 5HN
United Kingdom
+44 (0)7971770726
jane.davies@arjo.com
Type
Public
Additional contact
Mrs Nicky Ivins
ORCID ID
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4502-7675
Contact details
The Welsh Wound Innovation Initiative Ltd
Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board c/o the Welsh Wound Innovation Centre
Rhodfa Marics
Ynysmaerdy
Pontyclun
Rhondda Cynon Taf
CF72 8UX
United Kingdom
+44 (0)1443 443870
Nicky.Ivins@wwic.wales
Additional identifiers
EudraCT number
Nil known
ClinicalTrials.gov number
Nil known
Protocol/serial number
IRAS 285979
Study information
Scientific title
Intermittent Pneumatic Compression of the Thigh for the Treatment of lower limb wounds (IPCOTT): a randomised control trial of IPC plus standard care vs. standard care alone
Acronym
IPCOTT
Study hypothesis
The addition of thigh-applied, intermittent, pneumatic, compression therapy to standard wound care, for the treatment of venous leg ulcers, will improve ulcer healing.
Ethics approval
Pending
Study design
Multicentre, interventional, open-label, randomized controlled trial
Primary study design
Interventional
Secondary study design
Randomised controlled trial
Trial setting
Other
Trial type
Treatment
Patient information sheet
Not available in web format, please use contact details to request a participant information sheet
Condition
Treatment of leg ulceration of venous aetiology
Intervention
Following a baseline assessment (which will include the collection of information relating to past medical history, current medications, wound history, current wound treatment, and wound measurement and photography), patients will be randomly assigned to treatment groups (group A and group B) using random permuted blocks within each centre. Wound size (≤30cm2, >30cm2) and duration (≤12 months, >12 months) will be stratification factors. An online software application (provided by Sealed Envelope Ltd) will be used for this purpose.
Group A will be the IPC group who will receive a WoundExpress IPC device to be used for two hours daily in the participant's own homes for a 16 week study period. During this time, participants in group A will also continue to receive their standard wound care. Participants in group B will receive their standard wound care only for the duration of the study. All participants will attend a follow-up appointment every two weeks where wound reassessment including measurement and photography and adherence to the intervention (for participants in group A) will be undertaken.
Intervention type
Device
Phase
Not Applicable
Drug names
WoundExpress a thigh applied intermittent pneumatic compression device
Primary outcome measure
1. Percentage reduction in wound surface area from baseline to week 16 measured using an IPad and InSight® wound imaging software at baseline, 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, and 16 weeks. A wound visual assessment will also be done documenting the condition of the wound bed, wound margin, condition of surrounding skin, and level of exudate. For the purpose of this trial, healing is defined as: ‘complete, full, 100% re-epithelialisation or closure without discharge, drainage/scab’.
Secondary outcome measures
1.Patient-reported wound-related pain according to a visual analogue score (VAS) at baseline, 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, and 16 weeks
2. Patient-reported quality of life according to the Cardiff Wound Impact Schedule at baseline, 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, and 16 weeks
3. Proportion of patients with complete wound healing during study 16 week period assessed using an IPad and InSight® wound imaging software at baseline, 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, and 16 weeks
Overall trial start date
01/11/2019
Overall trial end date
30/06/2022
Reason abandoned (if study stopped)
Eligibility
Participant inclusion criteria
1. Age ≥18 years
2. Presence of at least one lower limb wound with venous aetiology, which is hard to heal. For the purpose of this trial, hard to heal is defined as a failure of the wound to progress towards healing (as indicated by a decrease in surface area by ≥25%) in preceding month, despite appropriate and adequate compression therapy.
3. Has received high static compression therapy (in the form of bandages, wraps, or hosiery) during the preceding 4 weeks and is willing to continue receiving high static compression therapy for the duration of the study
4. Able and willing to give informed consent for participation in the study
5. Able to self-apply IPC garment (supplied) and connect to an electrically operated pump at home for two hours daily for a 16 week period
Participant type
Patient
Age group
Adult
Gender
Both
Target number of participants
160
Participant exclusion criteria
1. Wound surface area ≥100 cm²
2. Wound duration ≤2 months or ≥5 years
3. Diabetic patients with recent HbA1c >8.5
4. Known, or suspected, deep vein thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolism, thrombophlebitis, or acute infections of the skin, such as cellulitis
5. Decompensated/severe congestive cardiac failure, pulmonary oedema associated with significant limb oedema, or any condition where an increase of fluid to the heart may be detrimental
6. Severe arteriosclerosis or other ischaemic vascular diseases
7. ABPI ≤0.8 or ≥1.3
8. Known malignancy
9. Receiving any other adjunctive wound therapy such as heat, topical negative therapy, biotherapy
10. Current participation in any other clinical trial
11. Likely to miss more than five days of therapy (e.g. for planned holiday)
12. Thigh circumference >73 cm (maximum garment size)
Recruitment start date
01/11/2020
Recruitment end date
30/09/2021
Locations
Countries of recruitment
United Kingdom
Trial participating centre
Welsh Wound Innovation Centre
Rhodfa Marics
Ynysmaerdy
Pontyclun
Rhondda Cynon Taf
Pontyclun
CF72 8UX
United Kingdom
Trial participating centre
Accelerate CIC
Centenary Wing
St Joseph’s Hospice
Mare St
Hackney
London
E8 4SA
United Kingdom
Trial participating centre
St. Maria Hilf Krankenhaus
Hiltroper Landwehr 11-13
Bochum
44805
United Kingdom
Sponsor information
Organisation
Huntleigh Healthcare Ltd
Sponsor details
35 Portmanmoor Road
Cardiff
CF24 5HN
United Kingdom
+44 (0)2920 485885
jane.davies@arjo.com
Sponsor type
Industry
Website
Funders
Funder type
Industry
Funder name
Huntleigh Healthcare Ltd
Alternative name(s)
Funding Body Type
Funding Body Subtype
Location
Funder name
Welsh Government and European Regional Development Fund
Alternative name(s)
Funding Body Type
Funding Body Subtype
Location
Results and Publications
Publication and dissemination plan
Results will be published in a high impact peer reviewed journal.
IPD sharing statement:
The data sharing plans for the current study are unknown and will be made available at a later date.
Intention to publish date
01/06/2023
Participant level data
To be made available at a later date
Basic results (scientific)
Publication list