MedPath

Outpatient Versus Inpatient Surgery for Ankle Fractures

Not Applicable
Active, not recruiting
Conditions
Surgical Procedures
Inpatient
Orthopedic Procedures
Ankle Fractures
Interventions
Procedure: Inpatient care
Procedure: Ambulatory care
Registration Number
NCT05389436
Lead Sponsor
Christian Grundtvig Refstrup Rasmussen
Brief Summary

This study is a single center randomized controlled trail in which we compare outpatient and inpatient patients with an ankle fracture requiring surgical treatment.

Detailed Description

This study is a single center randomized controlled trail in which we compare outpatient and inpatient patients with an ankle fracture requiring surgical treatment.

Primary outcome: The primary objective of this study is to compare the 12-weeks patient reported Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FOAS).

Secondary outcomes: Multiple other analysis are planned, but being secondary, they are hypothesis generating. They will include, but are not limited to, cross-over, unscheduled contacts, adverse events, pain, general health, time to return to work and socio-economic consequences between the two groups.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
86
Inclusion Criteria
  • Ankle fracture indicating surgical treatment.
  • Fracture stable in lower leg cast.
  • Patient 18 years or older.
  • Patient is able to ambulate with walking aid, and perform ADL at home.
Exclusion Criteria
  • Impaired physical, mental or social capacity incapable of participating in study.
  • Incapable of reading or understanding Danish.
  • Patient does not wich to participate.
  • Concurrent major fracture to lower extremity (ipsi- and/or contralateral)
  • Patholocigal fracture
  • ASA score 3 or higher.
  • Pregnancy.
  • Open fracture.
  • Infectious disease requiring isolation.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
StandardInpatient careThe patient is admitted from the ER, surgery is performed when possible in regards to surgical capacity and swelling. Discharged when mobilised with cast.
ExperimentalAmbulatory careThe patient is discharged from the ER following X-ray, casting, charts. The patient is contacted when surgery is scheduled, and this is performed in a ambulatory setting
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Foot and Ankle Outcomes Score12 weeks

The FAOS is a patient-reported structure-specific questionnaire. Consisting of 5 subscales: pain, symptoms, activities of daily living (ADL), function in sport and recreation (Sport/Rec), and foot- and ankle-related quality of life (QOL). A normalized score (100 indicating no symptoms and 0 indicating extreme symptoms) is calculated for each subscale. The result can be plotted as an outcome profile.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Ankle range of motion6 and 12 weeks

Ankle range of motion. With the patient supine on an examination table the full range of passive motion in both ankle joints will be measured using a standard goniometer.

Time to return to work2, 6 and 12 weeks

The time from surgery to end of sick leave measured in days.

Patient satisfaction2, 6 and 12 weeks

Patient reported satisfaction. The patient is asked:

1. "Given your experience with the treatment, how likely is it that you would choose it again?" and the possible answers are preplanned, using a 5 point Lickert scale: Very likely, likely, either/or, unlikely, very unlikely.

2. "Given your experience with the treatment, how likely is it, that you would recommend it to a relative or friend?" and the possible answers are preplanned, using a 5 point Lickert scale: Very likely, likely, either/or, unlikely, very unlikely.

Tegner activity scale12 weeks

The Tegner activity scale is a 1-item instrument that assesses activity levels for sports (competitive or recreational) and occupational activities (light or heavy labor). It evaluates the patient's level of work and sports activity on an 11-level scale, with higher scores representing higher levels of physical activity.

Bone union6 and 12 weeks

Bone union, will be evaluated on standard AP and side X-rays of the fractured ankle. The evaluation of bone union will be defined as: i) visible callus formation, diminished no visible fracture line and no pain from the fracture site at weight-bearing and at clinical examination.

Adverse events2 days, 2, 6 and 12 weeks

Adverse events, defined as any negative or unwanted reactions to the two groups will be recorded. Based on previous reports we will focus on: infection, DVT and re-operation. Patients are continuously requested to report any suspicion of a potential AE. Patients will be asked about potential AEs. Furthermore, medical records will be checked at the primary endpoint (12 weeks) for all AEs occurring from inclusion until the 12 week follow-up. An AE is defined as any undesirable experience during follow-up leading to contact with the healthcare system (general practitioner or hospital). If an AE result in hospitalization, prolonged inpatient hospital care, result in re-surgery, or if an AE is life-threatening, result in death, permanent disability or damage, they will be categorized as serious adverse events (SAEs).

Pain intensity measured on a 10 cm VAS scale2 days, 2, 6 and 12 weeks

Development in pain will be recorded by patient-reported pain intensity measured on a 10 cm visual analogue scale (VAS) with endpoints "no pain" and "maximal pain" for the worst pain during the last 24 hours and resting pain.

EQ-5D-5L questionnaire (5-level version)2, 6 and 12 weeks

General health will be assessed using EQ-5D-5L questionnaire (5-level version), both the descriptive index and the EQ-VAS. It consists of five dimensions: Mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression, and a self-rated health scale on a 20 cm vertical, visual analogue scale with endpoints labelled 'the best health you can imagine' and 'the worst health you can imagine'. An Eq5d-5L index of 1.0 indicated full health, 0 death, and -0.59 denoted a condition worse than death.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Aalborg Universitetshospital

🇩🇰

Aalborg, Denmark

© Copyright 2025. All Rights Reserved by MedPath