The purpose of this study is assess the safety and efficacy of Acutrak headless screws in comparison to other fixation methods (traditional headed screws, plates, and wires) used in the treatment of medial malleolus fracture of the ankle joint. The investigators hope to learn the following objectives from this study 1. Prospectively establish equivalence with respect to fracture union rate after Acutrak headless compression screw fixation when compared to other fixation methods for medial malleolus fractures. 2. Prospectively establish equivalence with respect Patient Reported Outcome Measurement Information System (PROMIS) scores after Acutrak headless compression screw fixation when compared to other fixation methods for medial malleolus fractures. 3. Prospectively establish superiority with respect to hardware related pain after Acutrak headless compression screw fixation when compared to other fixation methods for medial malleolus fractures. 4. Prospectively establish superiority with respect to the hardware removal rate after Acutrak headless compression screw fixation when compared to other fixation methods for medial malleolus fractures. Patients scheduled for open reduction and internal fixation for medial malleolus fracture by using Acutrak headless screw or any other method will be asked to enroll by the attending physician, and those patients will be asked to consent to the study. Patients will be randomized by sealed envelope to surgical fixation with traditional headed screws, plates, and wires or Acutrak headless compression screws. At the time of randomization, the fracture pattern and severity, past medical history and medications, and demographic data will be documented. After operative fixation, patients will receive routine fracture follow-up with a clinical evaluation for tenderness, radiographs to evaluate stability and union, and complete the PROMIS and Visual Analogue Pain Scale (VAS) scores to 2 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years after surgical fixation
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
1
The fixation provided by the Acutrak headless compression screws provide sufficient fixation to achieve union and a favorable clinical outcome in both horizontal and vertical medial malleolus fractures when compared to bicortical and unicortical screw fixation, tension band wiring, and mini-fragment or buttress plating
DePuy-Synthes Cannulated Cancellous Screws, DePuy-Synthes Cancellous Screws, DePuy-Synthes Cortical Screws, DePuy-Synthes 1/3 Tubular Plate, DePuy-Synthes Locking contrast dynamic compression (LC-DCP) Plate, DePuy-Synthes Pre-contoured Plate, and/or 18g Wire are the alternative methods of treatment of medial malleolus fracture.
Stanford University School of Medicine
Palo Alto, California, United States
Kaiser Hospital
Sacramento, California, United States
Brigham and Women's Hospital,
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Change in Severity of Hardware Related Pain Localized to the Medial Malleolus at One Year After Sustaining an Ankle Fracture.
Pain on a visual analogue scale (range: 0 to 1; 0 = no pain; 10 = worst pain imaginable).
Time frame: Baseline, year 1
Fracture Union Rate at One Year After Sustaining an Ankle Fracture.
Fracture union rate assessed by radiographic imaging.
Time frame: Month 3
Change in Patient Reported Outcome Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Scores at Two Years After Sustaining an Ankle Fracture - Lower Extremity Function Scale (LEFS)
The PROMIS LEFS scale consists of 20 questions, each on a 5-point Likert scale (0 = extreme difficulty, 4 = no difficulty). Questions are summed for a total score.
Time frame: Baseline, year 2
Change in Patient Reported Outcome Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Scores at Two Years After Sustaining an Ankle Fracture - Depression
The PROMIS depression score is based on an adaptive test, and reported as a cumulative T-score with standard error.
Time frame: Baseline, year 2
Change in Patient Reported Outcome Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Scores at Two Years After Sustaining an Ankle Fracture - Pain Interference
The PROMIS pain interference score is based on an adaptive test, and reported as a cumulative T-score with standard error.
Time frame: Baseline, year 2
Change in Patient Reported Outcome Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Scores at Two Years After Sustaining an Ankle Fracture - Physical Function
The PROMIS physical function score is based on an adaptive test, and reported as a cumulative T-score with standard error.
Time frame: Baseline, year 2
Amount Pain Medication Required During Recovery Period
Pain medication measured in morphine equivalents.
Time frame: Up to 2 years
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