6 Clinical Trials for Various Conditions
Do teen-age patients with a dislocated knee cap do better with or without a brace?
The purpose of this study is to identify predictors of future injury and disability following LPD. The investigators' long term goal is to improve longitudinal outcomes of athletes with LPD following surgical and non-surgical management. Currently, there is limited information available to clinicians regarding appropriate criteria for returning athletes to sports participation following LPD. The evidence produced by this study will provide necessary information to develop appropriate rehabilitation strategies that may reduce the risk for future patellar instability and associated patellofemoral joint dysfunction and pain.
The goal of this observational study is to learn about the outcomes of medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) reconstruction for the treatment of recurrent patellar instability. The main questions it aims to answer are: * What are the risk factors for recurrent patellar instability after MPFL reconstruction? * What functional outcomes do patients report after MPFL reconstruction? Participants undergoing MPFL reconstruction will answer survey questions about their knee and activity level 1 year and 2 years after surgery.
This research study is designed to allow health care professionals and researchers to answer many questions about whether a new type of physical therapy called blood flow restriction training (called BFRT) will improve recovery for those with patellar instability.
The investigators plan to perform a prospective observational cohort study of patients undergoing MPFL reconstruction for the treatment of episodic patellar instability in the absence of significant degenerative disease. The investigators will follow these study subjects for a minimum of two years to monitor their functional and clinical outcome.
Background: The forces involved in a patella dislocation event can cause significant collateral damage involving the articular cartilage of the patella femoral joint. As a result, prevention of recurrent patella dislocation and the associated disability and morbidity has generated significant interest in the orthopedic community. Historically, nonoperative treatment for first time patella dislocation has been problematic due to high redislocation rates. Nonoperative protocols generally involve bracing and/or immobilization, followed by physical therapy (1). Surgical approaches to recurrent patella dislocation, both soft tissue and boney realignment operations, have also had mixed results, including low success rates, associated complications, and variable rates of return to functional activity (2,3,4). This study is intended to compare the outcomes of a relatively low-risk Medial Patellofemoral Ligament (MPFL) direct repair procedure to conservative treatment. Methods/Design: This study is designed as a two arm randomized prospective trial. Approximately fifty subjects will be randomly assigned to either a surgical or non-operative arm by means of a computer randomized allocation program. All subjects will have X-Ray Images and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) to determine the site of the MPFL damage, and to determine if any excluding conditions exist. Subjects randomized to the surgical group will have repair of the MPFL. Routine aftercare will consist of physical therapy in a clinic that has agreed to follow our protocol. Subjects randomized to the nonoperative group will receive 2 weeks of patellar immobilization, followed by patellar stabilization bracing with physical therapy for approximately 12 weeks. Physical therapy will progress through five phases with the goal of gait normalization, full range of motion and return to sport. Both arms will be given outcome questionnaires and physical activity assessments before treatment, and at one, three, six, twelve, and twenty four month intervals. Discussion: This prospective randomized trial will investigate the results of direct repair of the medial patellofemoral ligament and conservative treatment by applying subjective outcome measures (Kujala scores), and exam findings to determine MPFL functional restoration or redislocation. Subjects will be examined in the clinic setting at 10 days, one month, and six months post trauma. Any reported recurrent dislocation or subluxation event will be documented during recovery. All subjects will receive merchant x-ray views at 3 months with manual lateral translation of the patella.