Is Gait Analysis for Proposed Rotational Deformities a Useful Resource

Anterior Knee Pain Syndrome Clinical Trial

Official title:

Is Gait Analysis for Proposed Rotational Deformities an Appropriate Use of Resources

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Not yet recruiting

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT05576064
• Other study ID #: RL1 860
• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Start date: October 10, 2022
• Est. completion date: December 31, 2022

Study information

• Verified date: August 2022
• Source: Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic and District NHS Trust
• Contact: Martyn Snow
• Phone: +44 (0)1691 404000
• Email: snowmartyn[@]gmail.com
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Observational

Clinical Trial Summary

Rotational deformities, such as femoral (thigh bone) and tibial (leg bone) torsion, are established causes of patellofemoral (kneecap joint) pain and instability. Currently, computerized tomography (CT) remains the gold standard assessment tool for measuring the degree of rotational deformity. However, there is disagreement as to the thresholds for surgical correction as it is suggested that some individuals compensate for the deformity better than others. Gait (walking) analysis provides important information of the biomechanical parameters undertaken in the knee joint during dynamic movement. In patients with rotational deformities, several variations from normal gait patterns have previously been described by several authors. Therefore, it is questioned whether these parameters can be correlated with the static features of CT scans, in individuals with rotational deformities. This study aims to determine whether gait analysis is a useful tool in the diagnosis and treatment pathway for rotational abnormalities in patellofemoral pain or instability. A secondary aim of this study will be to assess whether gait analysis can detect a rotational deformity in the lower limb and determine whether the changes seen are proportionate to the level of deformity.

Patients to be included in this retrospective study are, adult patients, with presumed rotational deformity of the lower limb, with anterior knee pain, who have been referred to the gait laboratory for assessment, and for CT rotational profiles. Only patients who have given consent to the gait laboratory for their information to be utilised in research will be included. Two researchers will record measures of rotational deformity from the CT images. The gait laboratory assessment includes measurements of biomechanical parameters based on joint movement through the gait cycle - these parameters will be assessed and compared with CT measures for correlation. All research will be conducted at the hospital where the gait laboratory assessment has been performed.

Description:

Patellofemoral pain (PFP) is one of the most common disorders in orthopaedic clinics (Rothermich, 2015). The knee pain is said to responsible for 25-40% of annual incidence, though a true prevalence is unknown (Witvrouw, 2014)(Lankhortst et al, 2012). Patient demographics range from young, active individuals to sedentary, elderly individuals (Witvrouw, 2014).

Primary care consultations to orthopaedic and musculoskeletal clinics, from knee pain alone, are reported to account for over 100,000 appointments annually (Smith et al., 2018). This costs the UK economy around £7.4million a year through employment absenteeism, alongside additional costs for non-operative and operative treatment procedures (Smith et al., 2018)(Swan et al., 2010).

Alongside age and activity, an important variable in understanding the epidemiology of PFP is the difference in the incidence and prevalence between genders. Many epidemiologic studies have shown that females have a two-fold higher incidence rate of the disorder than males (Rothermich, 2015).

The aetiology of PFP is evasive and multifactorial. Therefore, patients presenting with this syndrome pose a challenge for the diagnosis and long-term treatment of the pain. An important part of the diagnosis for the disorder is to rule out any other possible causes such as plica syndrome, neuromas or intra-articular pathology (Rothermich, 2015). Combinations of malalignment of the lower extremities, imbalance in muscles of the hips and knee joints, and over use, are the main factors which present most often and are considered causative to the disorder (Rothermich, 2015). One main contributors to PFP is that of lower limb structural factors, such as femoral ante/retro version and tibial torsion (Snow, 2021). These factors are thought to significantly effect gait and muscular function, which results in overloading of the joint and disturbed patellofemoral mechanics (Snow, 2021).

Currently, computerised tomography (CT) is the gold standard tool used to quantify rotational deformity on the lower limb (Snow, 2021). However, CT is a static imaging modality and does not capture the 'real life' dynamic kinetics that occur through movement (Saevarsson et al., 2013). Gait analysis provides important quantitative information of the biomechanical parameters undertaken in the knee joint during dynamic movement. In patients with rotational deformities, these parameters are either heightened or decreased on activity (Arazpour et al., 2016). Therefore, it is questioned as to whether gait analysis can detect a rotational deformity in the lower limb and determine whether the changes seen are proportionate to the level of deformity. Consequently, questioning as to whether gait analysis is an appropriate tool for diagnostic and treatment pathways for PFP.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Enrollment: 40
• Est. completion date: December 31, 2022
• Est. primary completion date: December 31, 2022
• Accepts healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
• Gender: All
• Age group: 16 Years and older

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• All patients who have previously undergone gait analysis for assessment of patellofemoral pain and or instability

• Have a rotational CT scan available for assessment of femoral and tibial torsion

• Signed research consent form

Exclusion Criteria:

• No available CT scan available

• No gait analysis data available

• No signed gait research consent form

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Anterior Knee Pain Syndrome
• Congenital Abnormalities
• Lower Limb Deformity
• Patellofemoral Pain
• Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome

Intervention

Diagnostic Test:
• Gait analysis
Analysis of gait profile and measures by gait laboratory on patients with suspected lower limb rotational deformities and anterior knee pain

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
n/a

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic and District NHS Trust

References & Publications (8)

Arazpour M, Bahramian F, Abutorabi A, Nourbakhsh ST, Alidousti A, Aslani H. The Effect of Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome on Gait Parameters: A Literature Review. Arch Bone Jt Surg. 2016 Oct;4(4):298-306. Review. — View Citation

Lankhorst NE, Bierma-Zeinstra SM, van Middelkoop M. Factors associated with patellofemoral pain syndrome: a systematic review. Br J Sports Med. 2013 Mar;47(4):193-206. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2011-090369. Epub 2012 Jul 19. Review. — View Citation

Rothermich MA, Glaviano NR, Li J, Hart JM. Patellofemoral pain: epidemiology, pathophysiology, and treatment options. Clin Sports Med. 2015 Apr;34(2):313-27. doi: 10.1016/j.csm.2014.12.011. Epub 2015 Jan 27. Review. — View Citation

Saevarsson SK, Romeo CI, Anglin C. Are static and dynamic kinematics comparable after total knee arthroplasty? J Biomech. 2013 Apr 5;46(6):1169-75. doi: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2013.01.002. Epub 2013 Feb 8. — View Citation

Smith BE, Selfe J, Thacker D, Hendrick P, Bateman M, Moffatt F, Rathleff MS, Smith TO, Logan P. Incidence and prevalence of patellofemoral pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS One. 2018 Jan 11;13(1):e0190892. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0190892. eCollection 2018. Review. — View Citation

Snow M. Tibial Torsion and Patellofemoral Pain and Instability in the Adult Population: Current Concept Review. Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med. 2021 Feb;14(1):67-75. doi: 10.1007/s12178-020-09688-y. Epub 2021 Jan 8. Review. — View Citation

Tan SS, van Linschoten RL, van Middelkoop M, Koes BW, Bierma-Zeinstra SM, Koopmanschap MA. Cost-utility of exercise therapy in adolescents and young adults suffering from the patellofemoral pain syndrome. Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2010 Aug;20(4):568-79. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0838.2009.00980.x. Epub 2009 Aug 23. — View Citation

Witvrouw E, Callaghan MJ, Stefanik JJ, Noehren B, Bazett-Jones DM, Willson JD, Earl-Boehm JE, Davis IS, Powers CM, McConnell J, Crossley KM. Patellofemoral pain: consensus statement from the 3rd International Patellofemoral Pain Research Retreat held in Vancouver, September 2013. Br J Sports Med. 2014 Mar;48(6):411-4. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2014-093450. — View Citation

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Is gait analysis a useful tool to determine rotational deformity?	The study aims to determine gait analysis is a useful tool in the diagnosis and treatment pathway for rotational abnormalities in patellofemoral pain or instability.	3 months
Secondary	Can gait analysis predict the same rotational deformity as CT	To assess whether gait analysis can detect a rotational deformity in the lower limb and determine whether the changes seen are proportionate to the level of deformity.	3 months