Active clinical trials for "Contracture"

Dupuytren's disease is a non-curative, progressive disorder leading to function-impairing deformities of the hand. Although numerous treatments exist, the most common and widely accepted therapy is removal of diseased fascia. Surgery is limited by prolonged recovery time, and many patients require multiple surgeries throughout their life as the disease progresses, with repeat surgeries increasing the risk of complications. Long recovery times and need for repeat surgeries has renewed interest in minimally invasive treatments for Dupuytren's disease. Percutaneous needle aponeurotomy (PNA) allows for rapid improvement in finger extension with minimal recovery time. The FDA approved collagenase clostridium histolyticum injection for Dupuytren's disease in 2010, which also allows for rapid increase in finger extension, also with minimal recovery time. Currently there is only one small study comparing PNA and collagenase injection (CI) that suggests similar outcomes in both treatments. Both treatments are minimally invasive, requiring minimal time off work and post-procedure pain. The main barrier to widespread adoption of CI is cost, particularly in patients with multiple areas of disease requiring treatment. The project proposed will compare these two methods for treating Dupuytren's disease. Approximately 334 participants will be recruited from patients referred for treatment to hand surgeons trained in CI and PNA at two Calgary, AB hospitals. Need for treatment will be determined in the usual fashion, and the option for entry into the study will be proposed to patients meeting inclusion/exclusion criteria. Participants will be randomized into either the PNA or CI treatment group. The surgeon will not be blinded to the procedure group; however, the therapist measuring outcomes will be, and the study participants will need to not divulge to the therapists which group they are in. Both procedures are performed under local freezing, and range from 5-20minutes. PNA involves the surgeon freezing the skin over the Dupuytren's cord, then using a small gauge needle inserted under the skin to cut the cord. This is repeated up the length of the cord to weaken it, allowing the surgeon to extend the finger and rupture the cord. CI involves the injection of collagenase (Xiaflex®), directly into the Dupuytren's cord. The patient then returns to see the surgeon within one week, has freezing placed in the hand, and the affected digit is extended to rupture the already weakened cord. The patient will be required to present to the hand therapist team for measurements of joint angles before and after the assigned treatment is performed. In order to measure treatment efficacy, study participants will be required to return for measurements of treated joints every 6 months. Lastly, participants will need to inform the performing surgeon or therapist, at follow-up visits of any complications they experience.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of the KneeMD subject-controlled knee rehabilitation device on the incidence of postoperative flexion contracture.

Hand edema following hand surgery is a common yet devastating side effect that can lead to early stiffness, prolonged rehabilitation and diminished function. These factors can reduce a patient's quality of life; mounting to an overall delay in recovery, return to work and daily activities. Conventional edema therapy includes cryotherapy, external compression, active and passive exercises and various types of massage. However, there is little evidence to suggest these modalities are effective. Tranexamic acid (TXA) is an antifibrinolytic that has been used in surgical disciplines for decades to aid in reducing intraoperative blood loss and consequent transfusions. Recently, the use of TXA for curbing post-operative edema and ecchymosis has shown promising results, however, its use in hand surgery has not been studied.

A pilot experiment to test the efficiency of the enzyme Collagenase in treating contractures which result's from burn's healing process. So far, treatment of choice in patients with burn's created movement limiting contractures, concentrated around supportive care. Patients were referred to surgical intervention only if necessary. Treatment by injecting an external enzyme is avant-garde and hasn't been done under such conditions. This study might introduce a new kind of treatment, which can be done in ambulatory environment .This type of treatment might significantly improve patients' function and quality of life, with no need for a surgical intervention.

Dupuytren's disease is a progressive disease due to unknown causal agents or genetics. Dupuytren's disease contains nodules and cords in the fascia as the epicenter of disease progression. Nodules contain whorls of collagen bundles and are densely packed with contractile fibroblasts and myofibroblasts. These highly contractile cells are linked to the fascia matrix through transmembrane integrin receptors. The cytoplasmic tail domains of the alpha beta integrin receptors provide a structural link between extracellular matrix and the actomyosin cytoskeleton. Complications of surgical partial or total aponeurectomy in Dupuytren's disease are reported in up to 10% of cases . Often, surgical complications lead to compromised flexion limiting grasping function of the involved hand . A recent 20-year-review of the literature included 41 clinical trials with complication rates reported from 3.6%to 39.1% . 16% major complications occurred with 3% digital nerve injuries, digital artery injuries in 2%, infections in 2%, and complex regional pain syndrome in 6%. Besides selective or total aponeurectomy, soft-tissue distraction has been suggested using either pneumatic devices or external fixateur . Non-invasive options include percutaneous fasciotomy or collagenase injection. The latter has been tested in a randomized-controlled trial published in the New England Journal of Medicine with 308 patients enrolled (NCT00528606) . Collagenase clostridium histolyticum significantly reduced contractures and improved the range of motion in joints affected by advanced Dupuytren's disease. In the long-term the cords at the level of the proximal interphalangeal joint appear to more recurrent than at the metacarpophalangeal joint after collagenase injection with an eight year follow-up . In early stage Dupuytren's contracture, radiotherapy has been suggested to limit disease progression. A cohort study of 135 patients with 208 hands involved received orthovoltage radiotherapy with a total dose of 30Gray separated by a six to eight week interval . After a follow-up of 13 years nodules and cords remained stable in 59%, improved in 10% and progressed in 31%. Beside Dupuytren's disease, there are a number of further less common fibromatosis, such as knuckle pads, M. Ledderhose , of the plantar fascia and peyronie disease at the penis. The latter has been treated by extracorporeal shockwave therapy. A randomized-controlled trial using 2000 focused shock waves reduced pain significantly and improved erectile function and quality of life . About half of the patients in one series of 44 patients had a significant reduction in angulation following shockwave therapy .

Capsular contraction is the one of the most common complications of both esthetic and reconstructive breast surgery, with high incidence after radiotherapy. The mechanism of the contraction is unclear, but is believed to be similar to the formation of hypertrophic scarring. Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) has demonstrated its use as an anti-inflammatory, anti-proliferative, and antibacterial agent. The aim of this study is to test the effect of DMSO on the incidence and severity if capsular contracture after breast alloplastic reconstruction in irradiated patients. We conduct a prospective randomized-control single-surgeon study in the tertiary academic Rabin Medical Center. 110 female candidates for mastectomy, radiotherapy and immediate two-stage reconstruction will be included. They will be divided into two groups: the DMSO treatment group, which will be treated according to our protocol, and the control group, that will be treated with the same protocol but with 0.9% saline instead. Several measures will be taken, including: capsular contracture grading by two plastic surgeons, a VAS-score of breast pain, maximal capsular thickness (MCT) in sonography evaluation, and pathology examination of the capsule (biopsy will be taken during the second stage operation). Rates and grades of capsular contracture evident clinically, radiologically and pathologically, will be evaluated and compared.

Diabetic foot complications are a common and costly problem. Excessive plantar pressures due to foot deformities and/or limited ankle dorsiflexion, especially in the presence of peripheral neuropathy, can predispose subjects with diabetes for diabetic foot ulcers. Achilles tendon lengthening surgery has shown to delay or prevent recurrence of diabetic foot ulcers. Studies have shown that Shockwave Therapy (EPAT - Extracorporeal Pulse Activation Technology) was effective in treating subjects with chronic heel pain and Achilles tendonitis with no serious side effects. EPAT, therefore, may allow diabetic patients with ankle equinus to perform more effective stretching exercises and may prevent recurrence of diabetic foot ulcers. The purposed of this RCT is to compare effectiveness of manual manipulation with EPAT versus manual manipulation alone on ankle dorsiflexion and dynamic plantar pressure in at-risk subjects with a history of diabetic foot ulcer.

The goal of this research project is to evaluate injections of botulinum toxin A (Botox) as the treatment for knee flexion contracture after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The current treatment for patients who do not achieve full extension of the knee (flexion contracture) after TKA consists of an aggressive physical therapy program, home stretching program, and the use of an extension orthosis (brace). Many patients do not tolerate wearing these braces. This initial project is designed to use injections of Botox as an adjunct to the standard current treatment and evaluate its efficacy. It is our hypothesis that a single injection into the hamstrings in addition to routine postoperative rehabilitation will result in improved knee extension and this improvement in function should endure without further treatment.

This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of this new therapeutic method, which is based on the percutaneous sliding technique with three hemi-cuts in the tendon.

Ultrasound guided treatment of steroids for capsular contracture in patients with reconstructed/augmented breast