REGARD: Comparing regional and general anaesthesia and their effect on delirium in patients with hip fractures
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN15165914 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN15165914 |
| Protocol serial number | 35126 |
| Sponsor | University of Warwick |
| Funder | National Institute for Health Research |
- Submission date
- 02/10/2017
- Registration date
- 12/10/2017
- Last edited
- 01/06/2021
- Recruitment status
- No longer recruiting
- Overall study status
- Completed
- Condition category
- Injury, Occupational Diseases, Poisoning
Plain English summary of protocol
Background and study aims
Patients who fall and sustain hip fractures are older and sometimes suffer from several health problems. Previous studies have shown that whilst some return to their previous quality of life, other patients do not recover well. For example some patients experience poor memory, feeling physically weak or they are not able to be as independent as they were before they fractured their hip. Patients who do not recover well have higher risk of developing complications after their operation. All patients undergoing surgery for hip fracture will be provided with anaesthesia. This research study is comparing the use of two standard types of anaesthetic (general anaesthesia – where the patient is are unconscious, regional anaesthesia – when the patient has nerve block and lightly sedated) for patients undergoing surgery for hip fractures. Research is needed to understand whether the type of anaesthesia may affect how well patients recover after surgery. To find out whether one type of anaesthesia is better, a large number of participants would be needed which would be very expensive. By carrying out this smaller scale study first, we will know whether it is possible to complete a larger study. There are some suggestions that patients given regional anaesthesia may recover better but this has not been thoroughly tested. It is not currently known whether one type of anaesthesia is better than the other. The aim of this study is to show whether a study on the effects of regional and general anaesthesia on delirium is feasible in patients with hip fractures.
Who can participate?
Adults aged 65 and older who have planned surgical treatment for a hip fracture.
What does the study involve?
Participants are assessed by the primary clinical team for eligibility after admission to hospital. Participants are further assessed by an anaesthetist to make sure that they are equally suitable for both regional and general anaesthetics. After the assessments have been completed, participants are asked to provide consent. Participants who consent to participate are randomised to one of two groups. Those in the first group receive regional anaesthetics. Those in the second group receive the general anaesthetic during their surgery. At 24 hours after the surgery, the participants are approached by the research nurse with more detailed information about the trial. The participant has the opportunity to ask any questions before giving written consent. If the patient is unable to give consent, a personal or nominated consultee will be approached. Participants are followed up after seven days, at hospital discharge and after 120 days after surgery. At each time point, patients who were previously unable to give consent will be assessed for their ability to give consent.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
There are no direct benefits or risks for those taking part in the study. Both anaesthetic options used in the trial are part of standard clinical practice. This means that patients are, in standard practice, almost equally as likely to receive general or regional anaesthetic. The difference for patients who are participating in the trial is that their data is collected and their results can influence future standard clinical practice. There have not been any direct comparisons between general and regional anaesthetic, so their comparative risks and benefits are unknown.
Where is the study run from?
1. Birmingham Heartlands Hospital
2. Queen’s Hospital Burton
3. Warwick Hospital
4. Royal Stoke University Hospital (as of 04/10/2018)
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
May 2017 to February 2019 (updated 01/06/2021, previously: May 2017 to January 2019)
Who is funding the study?
National Institute for Health Research (UK)
Who is the main contact?
Dr Joyce Yeung
REGARD.trial@warwick.ac.uk
Contact information
Public
Warwick Clinical Trials Unit
Warwick Medical School
University of Warwick
Coventry
CV4 7AL
United Kingdom
 ORCID ID |
0000-0003-2950-4758 |
|---|---|
| Phone | +44 2476 575923 |
| REGARD.trial@warwick.ac.uk |
Study information
| Primary study design | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Study design | Randomised; Interventional; Design type: Treatment, Complex Intervention |
| Secondary study design | Randomised controlled trial |
| Study type | Participant information sheet |
| Scientific title | A Feasibility Randomised Controlled Trial to compare REgional versus General Anaesthesia in Reducing Delirium in patients with Hip Fractures |
| Study acronym | REGARD |
| Study objectives | The aim of this study is to show whether a trial on the effects of regional and general anaesthesia on delirium is feasible in patients with hip fractures. This research is designed to compare whether local or general anaesthesia makes a difference to how well someone recovers after hip surgery: in particular cognition (thinking and awareness) and physical function (mobility and quality of life). |
| Ethics approval(s) | London - South East Research Ethics Committee, 27/07/2017, ref: 17/LO/1156 |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | Specialty: Injuries and emergencies, Primary sub-specialty: Injuries and emergencies; UKCRC code/ Disease: Injuries and Accidents/ Injuries to the hip and thigh |
| Intervention | The REGARD study is a feasibility randomised control trial (RCT). REGARD is a small trial (n=100) looking to recruit patients aged over 65, who are about to undergo surgery for a fractured hip and are suitable to have either Regional Anaesthetic (RA) or General Anaesthetic (GA) during their surgery. The majority of patients that present to hospital with a hip fracture in this age group are often able to tolerate either type of anaesthetic but there is a lack of research into which type of anaesthetic is best for these patients. The study will look at incidence of post-operative delirium, pain, functional outcome and quality of life in participating patients up to 120 days post-surgery. The study aims to see if a larger randomised trial is possible using this trial design to inform standard clinical care practice within the UK. If the condition of the patient has changed in the meantime and the clinical staff no longer consider the participant suitable for either anaesthetic, the participant will be treated according to their clinical needs. This means that if the participant is assigned to regional anaesthetic, but develops the need for a general anaesthetic before or during the operation, the participant will receive general anaesthetic. The trial also includes a qualitative substudy that will look at the effectiveness of patient identification, screening and randomisation procedures. This aspect of the study will explore staff members’ experience of being involved in the trial, as well as what they believe to be potential barriers and facilitators to recruitment. |
| Intervention type | Other |
| Primary outcome measure(s) |
1. Proportion of eligible patients that are randomised are measured using records at study end |
| Key secondary outcome measure(s) |
Current secondary outcome measures as of 01/06/2021: |
| Completion date | 28/02/2019 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Patient |
|---|---|
| Age group | Senior |
| Sex | All |
| Target sample size at registration | 100 |
| Total final enrolment | 100 |
| Key inclusion criteria | 1. Clinically or radiographically diagnosed intracapsular or extracapsular hip fracture 2. Planned surgical treatment via hemiarthroplasty, total hip arthroplasty or appropriate fixation procedure 3. Aged 65 years and over |
| Key exclusion criteria | 1. Multiple trauma or planned concurrent surgery not amenable to spinal anaesthesia 2. Absolute contraindication to regional anaesthesia: 2.1. Known or suspected congenital or acquired coagulopathy 2.2. Active use of pharmacological anticoagulants within a timeframe defined to contraindicate neuraxial block placement 2.3. Known or suspected unrepaired critical or severe aortic stenosis 2.4. Known or suspected active skin infection at the planned needle insertion site 2.5. Known or suspected elevated intracranial pressure contraindicating dural puncture; previous spinal surgery precluding RA, localised sepsis in lumbar spine, documented allergies to local anaesthetic 3. Known or suspected to be at elevated risk for malignant hyperthermia 4. Previous participation in the REGARD trial 5. Determination by the surgeon or the anaesthetist that the patient would not be suitable for randomisation 6. Patient not expected to survive beyond 48 hours |
| Date of first enrolment | 05/10/2017 |
| Date of final enrolment | 18/09/2018 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- United Kingdom
- England
Study participating centres
Birmingham
B9 5SS
United Kingdom
Belvedere Road
Burton on Trent
DE13 0RB
United Kingdom
Lakin Road
Warwick
CV34 5BW
United Kingdom
Stoke-on-Trent
ST4 6QG
United Kingdom
Results and Publications
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | Yes |
|---|---|
| IPD sharing plan summary | Other |
| IPD sharing plan | The datasets generated and/or analysed during the current study during this study will be included in the subsequent results publication. |
Study outputs
| Output type | Details | Date created | Date added | Peer reviewed? | Patient-facing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HRA research summary | 28/06/2023 | No | No | ||
| Participant information sheet | Participant information sheet | 11/11/2025 | 11/11/2025 | No | Yes |
| Study website | Study website | 11/11/2025 | 11/11/2025 | No | Yes |
Editorial Notes
01/06/2021: The following changes were made to the trial record:
1. The recruitment start date was changed from 26/09/2017 to 05/10/2017.
2. The overall end date was changed from 31/01/2019 to 28/02/2019.
3. The intention to publish date was changed from 31/01/2020 to 01/07/2021.
4. The secondary outcome measures were changed.
5. The total final enrolment was added.
6. The plain English summary was updated to reflect these changes.
7. Please note that the recruitment start date occurred after the initial submission to the registry (date applied).
04/10/2018: The following chnages have been made to the trial record:
1. The study contact telephone number has been updated
2. The overall trial end date has been changed from 31/12/2018 to 31/01/2019
3. The recruitment end date has been changed from 31/08/2018 to 18/09/2018
4. Royal Stoke University Hospital has been added as a trial participating centre
5. The plain English summary has been updated
6. The intention to publish date has been changed from 31/12/2018 to 31/01/2020
24/10/2017: Internal review
13/10/2017: Internal review.
12/10/2017: The ISRCTN prospective/retrospective flag compares the date of registration with the recruitment start date and does not include any grace period. The registration of this study was requested through the NIHR Portfolio and was finalised within 6 months of the recruitment starting.
