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Elbow InjuryNCT05437133

Reliability and Validity of Self-reported Adherence to Elbow Orthosis Wearing Time

An observational study of Elbow Injury and Elbow Fracture, run by Western University, Canada.

Unknown status

Status not confirmed. The sponsor has not verified this record for over two years, so it may be out of date.

Official record
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Trial summary

The purpose of this study is to validate whether the use of a self-reported diary for orthosis use is accurate and valid. We will insert a temperature gauge into the orthosis during fabrication that measures temperature to an accuracy of one degree Celcius. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and older
Conditions the study is for
Elbow Injury, Elbow Fracture, Elbow Arthritis
What is being tested?
Custom fabricated elbow extension orthosis
Type of treatment
Medical device
How many people
55 participants
Where
No sites listed yet
Study dates
1 Jul 2022to 1 Jan 2025
Phase
Observational
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 years and older
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Study population: All patients over age 18, with elbow trauma, referred by the Upper Limb Surgeons at the Roth McFarlane Hand \& Upper Limb Centre for night time extension splinting of the elbow following trauma. We will enroll patients consecutively.

Who may be able to join

  • All patients over age 18, with elbow trauma, referred by the Upper Limb Surgeons at the Roth McFarlane Hand \& Upper Limb Centre (HULC) for night time extension splinting of the elbow following trauma

Who cannot join

  • Elbow instability, infection, or other condition precluding the use of an extension orthosis at night time. Inability to wear the orthosis due to know skin reactions, claustrophobia, or ability to understand instructions and precautions provided in English. Patients will also be excluded if they are unable to return to HULC for follow up due to driving distance.

About this study

Official title: Reliability and Validity of Self-reported Adherence to Elbow Orthosis Wearing Time Using Concealed Temperature Sensors

The purpose of this study is to validate whether the use of a self-reported diary for orthosis use is accurate and valid. We will insert a temperature gauge into the orthosis during fabrication that measures temperature to an accuracy of one degree Celcius. This sensor is about the size of a watch battery, and patients will be told that it is measuring the force of stretch applied to the elbow, while in fact, it is measuring the amount of time that the orthosis is being worn. The temperature of the skin while wearing the orthosis heats up the sensor, and we can accurately predict (within 5 minutes of accuracy) how long the orthosis is worn each day.

We will have patients also fill out a self-report diary outlining how long they are wearing the orthosis each day, and compare these times to the measurements taken by the sensor. As secondary outcomes, we will look at whether the orthoses improve elbow range of motion (ROM), patient satisfaction, and improvement over time on patient reported outcome measures. This study will provide important information about the validity and reliability of using diaries to measure adherence to orthoses, and will be the first to provide objective data regarding the actual use of these orthoses and whether they help to decrease elbow stiffness.

Read the detailed description

The elbow is prone to stiffness following trauma. Orthoses or splints are commonly used to manage this stiffness and prevent flexion contractures following elbow injury. One of the main orthoses used to treat patients who cannot extend their elbow following injury is to make an orthosis or splint to hold the elbow as straight as possible through the night to provide a gentle stretch. As patients gain the ability to straighten their elbow, the orthosis is reshaped over several weeks to continue to provide a stretch at night. This study will investigate the effectiveness of these orthoses for improving ROM, by correlating actual wearing time to ROM measurements. To date, there is no objective way of measuring whether patients actually wear these orthoses at night. Measurement of actual wearing time in the splint has been dependent on self-reported diaries to document wearing time.

The purpose of this study is to validate whether the use of a self-reported diary for orthosis use is accurate and valid. We will insert a temperature gauge into the orthosis during fabrication that measures temperature to an accuracy of one degree Celcius. This sensor is about the size of a watch battery, and patients will be told that it is measuring the force of stretch applied to the elbow, while in fact, it is measuring the amount of time that the orthosis is being worn. The temperature of the skin while wearing the orthosis heats up the sensor, and we can accurately predict (within 5 minutes of accuracy) how long the orthosis is worn each day.

We will have patients also fill out a self-report diary outlining how long they are wearing the orthosis each day, and compare these times to the measurements taken by the sensor. As a secondary outcome, we will look at whether the slightly different way the orthosis is made changes elbow stiffness via range of motion measurements of the elbow. Other data collected will include patient reported outcome measures including the Patient Rated Elbow Evaluation, The Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder, and Hand Questionnaire, and a patient satisfaction survey. This study will provide important information about the validity and reliability of using diaries to measure adherence to orthoses, and will be the first to provide objective data regarding the actual use of these orthoses and wearing time to changes in range of motion.

The Sensors are able to record 2 weeks on continuous data, and patients will be followed for 3 total visits - one for splint fabrication, at 2 weeks, 4 weeks, and 6 weeks, post splint fabrication. Patients will also attend regular therapy visits as needed, independent of these followups.

Being tested
Custom fabricated elbow extension orthosis
Medical subject headings
Elbow Injuries, Elbow Fractures

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Custom fabricated elbow extension orthosisDevice

    custom low temperature thermoplastic orthosis (Splint) holding the elbow in maximum extension at night

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Orthosis wearing time (sensor measured)

    overall time in orthosis as measured by the sensor

    Measured: 6 weeks

  2. Orthosis wearing time (self-reported)

    overall time in orthosis reported by the patient

    Measured: 6 weeks

Secondary outcomes (2)
  1. Elbow ROM

    goniometric measurement

    Measured: 6 months

  2. Patient Rated Elbow Evaluation

    patient reported outcome measure

    Measured: 6 months

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted29 Jun 2022
  2. Study start1 Jul 2022 (estimated)
  3. Primary completion1 Jul 2024 (estimated)
  4. Study completion1 Jan 2025 (estimated)

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Observational
Observational model
Cohort
Time perspective
Prospective
Enrolment
55 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT05437133
Sponsor's protocol ID
12567
Status last verified
Jun 2022
First submitted
23 Jun 2022
Last updated
29 Jun 2022
Results posted
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

An observational study of Elbow Injury and Elbow Fracture, run by Western University, Canada.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 1 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: status not confirmed, as of the sponsor's last update on 29 Jun 2022. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

Results are not available in the source record.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Orthosis wearing time (sensor measured) (time frame: 6 weeks). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 29 Jun 2022.

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