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Evaluation of Clinical and Radiographic Findings in Patients Treated Surgically for Biceps Long Head Injury

Not Applicable
Recruiting
Conditions
Bicep Tendon Rupture
Interventions
Diagnostic Test: radiographic control
Registration Number
NCT06483256
Lead Sponsor
Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli
Brief Summary

This is an interventional, single-center study with clinical and radiographic evaluation, at follow-up of at least 2 years, of patients treated surgically with arthroscopy-assisted distal biceps tendon repair at the Rizzoli Orthopaedic Institute. The study consists of 2 phases (Identification of includable patients, Follow-up visit:

* identification by trained medical staff of subjects who meet the study inclusion criteria

* Patients, after signing informed consent, will be evaluated clinically and radiographically by radiography in lateral and anteroposterior projection at the follow-up visit by specialized medical personnel. A clinical examination will be performed, with subjective and objective evaluation questionnaires administered, and a strength assessment of the operated limb and contralateral limb will be performed using specific dynamometers on the same date as the radiography is performed at the Rizzoli Orthopedic Institute. The radiographic study with standard projections (AP and LL) is used to evaluate any signs of anchor loosening and/or presence of heterotopic ossifications (which can limit movement and represent one of the main complications).

Study-specific radiographs will be performed on the same day as the outpatient clinical evaluation in consultation with the Radiology Service Manager.

Detailed Description

This is an interventional, single-center study with clinical and radiographic evaluation, at follow-up of at least 2 years, of patients treated surgically with arthroscopy-assisted distal biceps tendon repair at the Rizzoli Orthopaedic Institute. The study consists of 2 phases (Identification of includable patients, Follow-up visit:

identification by trained medical staff of subjects who meet the study inclusion criteria Patients, after signing informed consent, will be evaluated clinically and radiographically by radiography in lateral and anteroposterior projection at the follow-up visit by specialized medical personnel. A clinical examination will be performed, with subjective and objective evaluation questionnaires administered, and a strength assessment of the operated limb and contralateral limb will be performed using specific dynamometers on the same date as the radiography is performed at the Rizzoli Orthopedic Institute. The radiographic study with standard projections (AP and LL) is used to evaluate any signs of anchor loosening and/or presence of heterotopic ossifications (which can limit movement and represent one of the main complications).

Study-specific radiographs will be performed on the same day as the outpatient clinical evaluation in consultation with the Radiology Service Manager.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
RECRUITING
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
30
Inclusion Criteria
  • Age ≥ 18 at the time of distal biceps tendon repair surgery
  • Surgery performed within 30 days of injury
  • Patients treated surgically for distal biceps tendon injury by arthroscopy-assisted technique at the Shoulder-Elbow Department of the Rizzoli Orthopedic Institute from January 01, 2017 to December 31, 2022.
Exclusion Criteria
  • < 18 years old at the time of surgery
  • Patients who have presented non-surgery-related problems to the operated limb in the years following surgery such as fractures or subsequent episodes of tendon injury.
  • Patients treated for distal biceps tendon injury by different surgical techniques

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
SINGLE_GROUP
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
radiographic controlradiographic controlStandard AP and LL X-Rays of the affected elbow
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Mayo elbow performance scorebaseline (post surgery)

It is currently considered the gold standard for objective measurement of elbow performance because of the immediacy of the results and its practicality of use. It assesses the presence of pain with a score from 0 to 45, Range of Motion with a score from 0 to 20, elbow stability with a score from 0 to 10, and the ability to perform 5 daily activities (combing, eating, personal hygiene, dressing, and putting on shoes) to each of which 5 points are assigned. It gives a result from 0 to 100 where results above 90 are defined as excellent, results between 75 and 89 are defined as good, between 60 and 74 are defined as sufficient and below 59 as poor.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
complications and reinterventionsbaseline (post surgery)

Questions will also be asked about possible complications and re-interventions, re-ruptures as well as return to pre-injury, pre-surgery daily activities, level of function achieved after the surgical procedure and maintenance of the same over time.

radiographybaseline (post surgery)

Radiography (X-ray) to document signs of indirect anchor mobilization and formation of heterotopic ossifications.

force evaluations with dynamometersbaseline (post surgery)

Force assessments will be made with dynamometers for forearm supination and elbow flexion by going to compare the strength of the operated limb with that of the contralateral limb in order to obtain a ratio that allows comparison between patients

patient satisfactionbaseline (post surgery)

A survey will be used to assest the patient satisfaction with their post-surgery recovery status. The patient will choose from 5 options to assest his general response to the surgery to see if it's better, worst or if nothing changed.

Disabilities of arm, shoulder and hand scorebaseline (post surgery)

is the most widely used score in the literature for objective assessment of upper limb function. Unlike MEPS, it is not a specific score for elbow pathology, but is widely used in the study of musculoskeletal disorders of other joints such as shoulder, wrist or in hand performance. The score is calculated by administering 30 items to the patient thus obtaining a score ranging from 0 (no disability) to 100 (maximum disability).

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli

🇮🇹

Bologna, Italy

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