Closed Fracture of Base of Fifth Metatarsal Bone Clinical Trial
Official title:
An Optimal Treatment for Avulsion Fractures of the Base of Fith Metatarsal Bone. A Level I Prospective Randomised Control Trial
Avulsion fractures of the base (tuberosity) of fifth metatarsal bone are the most common fractures in the foot, frequently treated in fracture clinics and involving significant resources. At present methods of treatment and follow up vary widely from no active treatment to surgery, depending entirely on a treating doctor preference. There is no agreement on simple, safe and reliable method of treatment. The investigators believe that vast majority of these injuries heal well on its own without any specific treatment. By comparing two most commonly used treatments the investigators aim to establish one simple, safe and reliable mode of treatments. The investigators are going to evaluate functional results of these two treatments in a short and longer time prospective, by using the best available scientific tools. The investigators believe that results of the investigators study will eventually lead to change of practise and more efficient NHS care for these patients. It will reduce unnecessary treatments and clinic appointments, and bring substantial savings to the NHS in a long prospective.
This is a randomised prospective control trial. Patients with these fractures will normally
first come to the Emergency Department (ED), where they have a foot radiograph confirming a
fracture, and initial treatment only. This treatment is arbitrary, depends on the assessing
clinician preference and usually varies from supportive tight bandage or a supportive
plaster cast with crutches. All of these patients are normally referred to an orthopaedic
fracture clinic. It is an orthopaedic trauma clinician in the fracture clinic who determines
and takes the responsibility for the definitive management of patients with this injuries
and may decide to change the treatment initiated by the ED staff.
The investigators will inform clinical staff in the ED of the trial.The investigators will
provide ED clinicians with patient information sheets. Patients who have this information
sheet provided by the ED will have between a few hours and more than 24 hours "cool off"
period to consider the information depending on next fracture clinic availability. Then they
will be recruited in the fracture clinic should they wish to participate. The investigators
must stress, however, that due to the nature of the ED service - high staff turn around,
time pressure and other reasons beyond our control it is not possible to guarantee that all
patients with relevant injuries will receive an information sheet in ED and have this "cool
off" period to consider participation in. In such situations patients will be offered the
information sheet, counselled and recruited, if they wish to, on their first presentation to
the fracture clinic. The investigators believe that due to practical issues related to ED
service this will be the likely situation for a significant proportion of patients. The
investigators think this is an unavoidable situation.
Patients will be recruited on their first presentation to a fracture clinic should they
consent. Using centralised electronic remote randomisation method patients will be allocated
either to group A(symptomatic treatment)- double tubigrip and crutches with recommendation
to weight bear as comfortable in normal footwear, or group B (active treatment) - below knee
walking plaster cast with crutches and recommendation to weight bear as comfortable. This
means that for many patients the initial treatment they received in ED will be changed but
this often happens in normal current practice. Two treatment modes used in our study -
supportive bandage and walking cast are the ones most commonly used normally. Patients
declining to participate in the study will be treated and followed up according to patient
and treating clinician preference and this also reflects the current practice. This study
therefore deviates little from the current common practice. Patients in group B will be
evaluated for venous thrombo-embolism (VTE) risk according to Sheffield Teaching Hospitals
NHS Foundation Trust policy. Those whose risk is high will be offered anti-thrombotic
prophylaxis according to the Trust policy for the duration of cast immobilization (4 weeks).
Those patients will be counselled on benefits and risks of anti-thrombotic prophylaxis. On
the whole we do not anticipate many patients to require anti-thrombotic prophylaxis.
Outcome measures: Primary outcome - foot functional outcome. We will use a Visual
-Analogue-Scale Foot and Ankle (VAS FA) score. This is the only validated functional foot
and ankle score. Secondary outcome - A) Health status and functional outcome, - Euroqol (EQ-
5D) - a standardised instrument for use as a measure of a health outcome and B) - foot
function - American Foot and Ankle Society Foot and Ankle functional (AOFAS) score. This
foot and ankle score is not validated, but most frequently used in the research literature.
Additional outcomes will be records of unexpected return with the same problem, change of
treatment modality, re-injury of the same foot and complications of treatment. The
investigators will evaluate outcomes at four time points. Firstly, patients will complete
baseline VAS FA, AOFAS, and EQ-5D questinnaires providing the level of functional
impairment/disability prior to treatment. Patients in both groups will be seen in clinic at
4 weeks - at this stage cast will be removed in group B. At this point VAS FA, AOFAS, and
EQ-5D questionnaires will be filled by patients in both groups in clinic. To see whether
method of treatment has an effect in longer prospective the investigators will evaluate
outcomes at 3 and 6 months. We anticipate that by this time fractures will heal uneventfully
in the vast majority of patients . We believe that majority of patients is unlikely to
return to clinic after such a long time. For this reason the investigators will post
questionnaires to patients in both groups to be filled at home and posted back to us in
confidential prepaid envelopes one week before their respective 3 and 6 month follow up. If
a patient will decide to withdraw, or we have no response, - no further attempts to contact
will be made. The investigators believe that this will save unnecessary follow up
appointments, and also yield more results. In case of any problems all patients will be able
to return to a fracture clinic for a help. The investigators will ask all patients in both
groups to stop using crutches whenever they feel like to.
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Allocation: Randomized, Endpoint Classification: Safety/Efficacy Study, Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment, Masking: Single Blind (Investigator), Primary Purpose: Treatment