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Comparing Use of Radiographs Versus Patient Empowerment (CURVE)

Not Applicable
Recruiting
Conditions
Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis
Interventions
Other: Standard follow-up
Other: Patient-empowered follow up
Registration Number
NCT05379127
Lead Sponsor
Radboud University Medical Center
Brief Summary

Objective: To evaluate the (cost-)effectiveness of a new patient-empowered follow up (FU) protocol in patients with Adolescent idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS) that is based on patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), self-assessment tools and physical examination, which is compared to standard FU care by: 1) Effect evaluation, 2) Economic evaluation, 3) Implementation (process) evaluation.

Study design: A multicentre pragmatic randomized trial design with two arms, combined with a patient preference cohort for each arm (partially randomized preference trial \[PRPT\]).

Study population: A total of 812 AIS patients (age 10-18 years) treated by the Dutch AIS Consortium, representing the scoliosis treatment centres in the Netherlands, will be included.

Three subgroups of AIS patients are distinguished, which are monitored over two years:

1. Pre-treatment group: adolescents with curve 10-25° (n=132 per arm; total n=264)

2. Post-brace treatment group (n=122 per arm; total n=244)

3. Post-surgery group (n=152 per arm; total n=304)

Intervention: The new patient-empowered FU protocol (PE-FU) is based on PROMs, self-assessment tools and clinical assessment including physical examination. The protocol aims to detect curve progression or postoperative complications based on these patient-based and clinical parameters to substitute the need to obtain routine x-rays. X-rays will only be taken when progression or postoperative complications are suspected in the pre- and post-intervention groups based on predefined criteria. The standard FU protocol consists of routine full-spine radiographs and routine clinical evaluations.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
RECRUITING
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
812
Inclusion Criteria
  • Patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS).
  • Age: 10-18 years old.
  • Patients scheduled for follow up in one of the participating centres.
  • Understanding of the Dutch language.
  • Signed informed consent.
  • Biplanar (Posterior-Anterior [PA] and Lateral) full-spine x-rays within the last 3 months.

Specifically for the pre-treatment group:

  • Girls aged ≤14 years (i.e. 10-14 years) and boys <16 years (i.e. 10-15 years). These patients still have generally 2 years of remaining skeletal growth. Patients above this age with a curve below 25 degrees have a limited risk for progression
  • Girls: pre-menarche up to 6 months post-menarche (to estimate end of growth)
  • A primary coronal curve of 10-25 degree.

Specifically for the post-brace group:

  • Patients aged 12-18 years
  • Within 3 months after termination of brace treatment
  • Minimum of 6 months of brace treatment

Specifically for the post-surgery group:

• Patients aged 12-18 years

Exclusion Criteria
  • Patients with juvenile or infantile idiopathic scoliosis with the diagnosis of onset under the age of 10.
  • Patients who are undergoing brace treatment. These patients are not included because of the need to monitor brace therapy with radiographs.
  • Patients who have undergone previous spinal surgery and are undergoing revision surgery.
  • Skeletally mature patients.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Standard follow-upStandard follow-upstandard care during follow-up
Patient-empowered follow-upPatient-empowered follow up-
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
The proportion of radiographs that has led to treatment consequences24 months

the proportion will serve as an indication of the sensitivity of the new PE-FU protocol and standard FU protocol. The number of x-rays that has led to treatment will be divided by the total number of x-rays in each subgroup to calculate the primary outcome.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
The change in readiation exposure24 months

The exposure in the new follow up will be compared to standard care using reference values

The specificity, negative predictive value and positive predictive value of the standard and new patient empowered follow up protocol.24 months
Self-assessment tool: Scolioscoopor pre-treatment and the post-brace group at 6, 12,18 and 24 months and for the postsurgery group at 3,12 and 24 months

Change in the trunk asymmetry (degrees).

Participants perspective: Scoliosis Appearance questionnaire short version [short SAQ])24 months

Dutch version of the scoliosis appearance questionnaire.

The safety of the standard and the new protocolfor pre-treatment and the post-brace group at 6, 12,18 and 24 months and for the postsurgery group at 3,12 and 24 months

The number of false negative radiological findings with treatment consequences not detected by any of the protocols at the end of the study period. This consists of the proportion of patients with delayed detection of progression or post-operative complications (e.g. a pseudo-arthrosis, curve progression, adding on), which requires treatment or increased vigilance.

Participants perspective: Numeric pain rating scale [NPRS 0-10]24 Months

Numeric rating scale for back pain, score range 0-10, 0 no pain at all and 10 wrost pain imaginable.

Participants perspective: health-related quality of life [EQ5D-5L]24 months

Dutch EQ-5D-5L using the Dutch utility score.

Cost-Benefit analysis: Cost analysis24 months

The costs will be assessed from a societal and a healthcare perspective. From the societal perspective, intervention, other healthcare, unpaid productivity, informal care, and absenteeism costs will be included, whereas only costs accruing to the formal Dutch healthcare sector will be included for the healthcare perspective.

educational status24 months

questions related to absence from school, absence from physical education classes, frequency of missing school exams, necessity to repeat a class, support and alternatives provided by the school, and return to school and sport after surgery.

Cost-Benefit analysis: Patient outcome analysis using Quality-Adjusted Life Years (QALY).24 months

Patient outcome analysis is based on EQ5D-5L.

Global perceirved effect [GPE]24 months

the recovery and statisfaction of the participant during and after treatment.

Participants perspective: condition-specific quality of life [SRS-22r]24 months

Scoliosis Research Society 22 items about function, pain, self image, mental health and statifaction.

Trial Locations

Locations (23)

Viecuri

🇳🇱

Venlo, Limburg, Netherlands

OLVG

🇳🇱

Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Netherlands

Flevo ziekenhuis

🇳🇱

Almere, Flevoland, Netherlands

Isala

🇳🇱

Zwolle, Drenthe, Netherlands

Maastricht UMC+

🇳🇱

Maastricht, Limburg, Netherlands

St Jansdal

🇳🇱

Harderwijk, Gelderland, Netherlands

Rijnstate

🇳🇱

Arnhem, Gelderland, Netherlands

Sint Maartenskliniek

🇳🇱

Boxmeer, Noord-Brabant, Netherlands

Amphia

🇳🇱

Breda, Noord-Brabant, Netherlands

ETZ Elisabeth

🇳🇱

Tilburg, Noord-Brabant, Netherlands

Noordwestziekenhuis groep

🇳🇱

Alkmaar, Noord-Holland, Netherlands

Amsterdam UMC

🇳🇱

Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Netherlands

Spaarne Gasthuis

🇳🇱

Haarlem, Noord-Holland, Netherlands

Dijklander

🇳🇱

Hoorn, Noord-Holland, Netherlands

Albert Schweitzer ziekenhuis

🇳🇱

Dordrecht, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands

Meander

🇳🇱

Amersfoort, Utrecht, Netherlands

Juliana kinderziekenhuis

🇳🇱

Den Haag, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands

Maasstad ziekenhuis

🇳🇱

Rotterdam, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands

Erasmus MC

🇳🇱

Rotterdam, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands

Groene Hart ziekenhuis

🇳🇱

Gouda, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands

Leiden UMC

🇳🇱

Leiden, Zuid-holland, Netherlands

UMC Groningen

🇳🇱

Groningen, Netherlands

UMC Utrecht

🇳🇱

Utrecht, Netherlands

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