Trial Comparing Treatment Strategies in Dupuytren's Contracture (DETECT)

DupuytrEn Treatment EffeCtiveness Trial (DETECT): Needle Fasciotomy, Surgery or Collagenase Injection for Dupuytren's Contracture

Central Finland Hospital District, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Turku University Hospital, Tampere University Hospital, Kuopio University Hospital, Oulu University Hospital, Medcare Oy, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Orton Orthopaedic Hospital

Trial is a prospective, randomized, controlled, outcome assessor-blinded, three armed parallel 1:1:1, multicenter trial. The research objective is to determine, which treatment strategy 1) primary percutaneous needle fasciotomy (PNF) followed by surgical limited fasciectomy (LF) in patients who do not respond to PNF, 2) primary collagenase clostridium histolyticym (CCH) followed by LF in patients who do not respond to CCH or 3) LF as the primary (and secondary) treatment modality is the most cost-effective in treating Dupuytren´s contracture. Short- and long-term results will be published.

Dupuytren's contracture (DC) is a fibroproliferative disorder of the palmar fascia, which in time leads to flexion contracture in one or more fingers. Etiology of the disease is still unknown, but it strongly seems that genetic factors play a major role. DC is associated most commonly with Caucasian population groups from Northern Europe. The estimated global prevalence among whites is 3% to 6% and increases with age. Men women ratio is 7:1. There is no definitive cure for DC. The treatment aims at relieving the symptoms by releasing the contracture by percutaneous or operative techniques. The investigators planned a prospective, randomized, controlled, outcome assessor-blinded, three armed parallel 1:1:1, multicenter trial comparing the cost-effectiveness of 1) collagenase clostridium histolyticum followed by limited fasciectomy in non-responsive cases, 2) percutaneous needle fasciotomy followed by limited fasciectomy in non-responsive cases and 3) primary limited fasciectomy in short- and long-term follow-up in DC. Protocol is approved by Tampere university hospital institutional review board and Finnish Medicine Agency (Fimea). All patients will give written informed consent. The results of the trial will be disseminated as published articles in peer-reviewed journals. Treatment of Duputren's contracture aims at reducing the functional deficit caused by the contracture. Recurrence is almost inevitable if the follow-up is long enough. Therefore, the investigators aim to analyze the effectiveness of three different treatment strategies in long-term follow-up, in addition to short-term follow-up, which include multiple interventions rather than just single intervention. The investigators chose a pragmatic primary outcome, which comprises both objective and subjective standpoint and reflects the needs of the patients as well as goals of the healthcare system. Furthermore, our short-term results give good high quality level evidence of effectiveness of all the three treatments and long-term follow-up a good perspective to the cost-effectiveness of the strategies.

Hand, Xiapex, Xiaflex, Clostridium histolyticum collagenase, Needle, Surgery, Aponeurectomy, Aponeurotomy, Fasciotomy, Fasciectomy, Dupuytren's disease, Dupuytren's contracture, Contracture, Connective tissue disease

This is a multicenter, randomized, outcome assessor blinded, three parallel armed (1:1:1), superiority trial comparing needle fasciotomy, collagenase injection and surgery as primary intervention for people with treatment-naïve Dupuytren's contracture with a five-year follow-up.

Outcome assessors who measured index, middle, ring and small fingers' flexion and extension degrees were blinded. Patients had opaque gloves in their hand when visiting the blinded outcome assessor. Due to the nature of the treatments it was not possible to blind patients, leading investigators or research assistants. To minimize any bias in interpreting the findings, we blinded treatment allocation in the draft results manuscript with groups labelled as A, B and C. The writing committee reached consensus on the interpretation of the findings prior to being unblinded to group assignments.

PNF is a treatment in which the Dupuytren's contracture cord causing the contracture is not excised, but only divided with a hypodermic needle.

Generic name of the drug is collagenase clostridium histolyticum. Dosage form is injectable powder, dosage 0.58 mg and frequency is one injection in four weeks up to three times. One injection is performed normally at least to three different places in the cord.

In LF, the thickened part of the palmar fascia causing the contracture is excised through skin incision.

The division of the cord can be made under local anesthesia in the clinic and takes only a few minutes to perform. It can be performed whenever the cord is palpable. There are only puncture wounds left, and hence, the patient can start normal use of the hand the day after the procedure. If patient seeks for a treatment and the recurrence of the disease can not be treated by the PNF or patient is not willing to new PNF patient will be treated with LF.

CCH chemically dissolves type I collagen of which the cord is composed of. It is injected inside the cord at least three different places in the outpatient clinic and the cord can be ruptured by gently force after one to three days. If patient seeks for a treatment and the recurrence of the disease can not be treated by the CCH or patient is not willing to new CCH patient will be treated with LF.

LF is performed in general or regional anesthesia in operating room. Constricting cords will be excised under direct vision. LF has been the dominant technique of surgical treatment. If patient seeks for a treatment the recurrence of the disease will be treated with LF as long as needed.

Success is a composite outcome comprising of 1) at least 50% contracture release from the recruitment and 2) patient is in patient accepted symptom state (PASS). PASS is defined by question: "Would you be satisfied and not in need for any other treatment if the functional impairment caused by the contracture would remain the same as it is today for the rest of your life?". Primary time point is five years' follow-up visit.

QuickDASH questionnaire is a validated upper extremity specific questionnaire consisting of 11 tasks/questions about the functional capacity and the pain.

Global rating to treatment effect will be evaluated by question: "How would you rate the function of your hand compared to the situation before the treatment?". The options are in 5-step Likert scale from (-2) Much worse to (+2) Much better: This question is also used as anchor question in the MCII analysis in which +1 and +2 are considered to present meaningful improvement to the patient.

EQ-5D-3L is a generic instrument for assessing quality of life comprising 5 dimensions and VAS for health level.

PASS is a relevant patient-centered outcome measurement, which reflects the overall state in which patients consider themselves as being well. It is a state of the symptoms between complete remission and subjective dissatisfaction with the symptoms.

Percentage of patients achieving clinically significant improvement (50% better PED) will be assessed.

Patient satisfaction with the treatment will be assessed by a simple "yes" or "no" question: "Would you prefer the same treatment again, if the result would be the same as it is now?"

In the trial will be reported major adverse events, which include: tendon rupture, nerve injury, arterial injury, CRPS and infection, skin rupture or hematoma that needs hospitalization/revision surgery.

The total passive extension deficit (TPED) and passive extension deficit (PED) of metacarpophalangeal (MPJ) and proximal interphalangeal (PIPJ) joints are used in almost all of the DC studies. Most of the studies used the PED as their primary outcome. In this trial, the TPED and PED of MPJ and PIPJ are used as secondary outcomes.

Patients are seeking help for their extension deficit in DC but in the end flexion of the fingers is more important for the hand function. Our treatments should not jeopardize finger flexion in an effort to reduce the extension deficit.

The costs are assessed by allocating previously estimated costs for interventions to each of the treatment arm.

Recurrence or extension is treated if the patient contacts the study center and requires new treatment (ie, patient is not in the PASS anymore) and at least 20° flexion contracture is observed in one of the joints. Progression of disease is measured and reported in three levels: (1) rate of reinterventions in the arm due to recurrence or extension of the disease (clinically relevant progression); (2) costs of reinterventions (impact of progression); and (3) change in TPED in those patients who do not require further treatments (clinically irrelevant progression).

In this study recurrence is defined when patient considers not being in PASS anymore and seeks for further treatment, and has at least 20° contracture.

Favored treatment modality will be asked from patients who undergo several treatment modalities (i.e. LF after CCH or PNF). Outcome will be assessed by question: "If you presented with a contracture for the first time now, would you prefer needle fasciotomy/injectable drug as the primary treatment or would prefer having surgery at first place?"

Success is a composite outcome comprising of 1) at least 50% contracture release from the recruitment and 2) patient is in patient accepted symptom state (PASS). PASS is defined by question: "Would you be satisfied and not in need for any other treatment if the functional impairment caused by the contracture would remain the same as it is today for the rest of your life?". Primary time point is five years' follow-up visit.

Inclusion Criteria: patients with ≥20° passive extension deficit in metacarpophalangeal (MPJ) or proximal interphalangeal joint (PIPJ), or TPED ≥30° in MPJ and PIPJ of finger/fingers II-V age > 18 years palpable cord provision of informed consent ability to fill the Finnish versions of questionnaires. Exclusion Criteria: recurrent contracture in the finger to be treated neurologic condition causing the loss of function of the finger to be treated contraindication for collagenase clostridium histolyticym (Xiapex/Xiaflex ®) pregnant or breast feeding total passive extension deficit > 135° (Tubiana stage 4) in finger to be treated rheumatoid arthritis previous fracture in finger to be treated, which affects range of motion of MPJ or PIPJ age > 80 years

Raisanen MP, Karjalainen T, Goransson H, Reito A, Kautiainen H, Malmivaara A, Leppanen OV. DupuytrEn Treatment EffeCtiveness Trial (DETECT): a protocol for prospective, randomised, controlled, outcome assessor-blinded, three-armed parallel 1:1:1, multicentre trial comparing the effectiveness and cost of collagenase clostridium histolyticum, percutaneous needle fasciotomy and limited fasciectomy as short-term and long-term treatment strategies in Dupuytren's contracture. BMJ Open. 2018 Mar 28;8(3):e019054. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2017-019054.