Active not recruitingOBSERVATIONAL

Correction of Angular Deformities in Knee Arthrosis

This study aims to make knee surgery more precise for people whose leg bones aren't perfectly aligned, a problem that can lead to knee arthritis. The surgery involves carefully cutting and reshaping a bone near the knee to relieve pressure on the joint. This is especially helpful for younger, active individuals who want to avoid a full knee replacement. Currently, surgeons rely on their judgment during the operation. This study introduces a custom-made 'cutting block' for each patient. This unique guide fits the patient's bone perfectly, helping the surgeon make the exact cuts planned beforehand. The research will check if this new tool makes the surgery more accurate.

At a glance

Status

Active not recruiting

Sponsor

Imperial College London

Enrolment target

Start

01 Nov 2014

Estimated completion

01 Dec 2028

Arthritis of Knee

What is this study about?

If your leg bones don't line up perfectly, it can put extra strain on one side of your knee joint. Over time, this uneven pressure can wear away the smooth cushiony material in your knee, called cartilage, leading to a type of arthritis called osteoarthritis. This is particularly common in younger athletes and can increase their risk of developing arthritis earlier in life.

There's an operation called an osteotomy that can help with this. It involves carefully cutting one of the bones near your knee and gently adjusting it to straighten your leg. This helps to spread your body weight more evenly across the knee joint. This type of surgery is known to be very effective in slowing down or even preventing the progression of knee arthritis, especially for younger, active people who would prefer to avoid a full knee replacement.

Even though we can accurately plan these operations using digital X-rays and 3D scans, there hasn't been a perfect way to carry out these precise plans during surgery. Surgeons often have to make decisions based on measurements taken during the operation itself, which can be less exact. This study aims to improve this by using a special custom-made 'cutting block'. This personalised guide will fit your bone exactly and have pre-cut slots to show the surgeon where to make the cuts and how much to adjust the bone, ensuring the operation closely matches the detailed plan made beforehand. This research will primarily look at how accurate this new approach is in correcting leg deformities.

Key takeaways

This study aims to make knee-straightening surgery more precise.
It uses a custom-made guide unique to each patient's bone.
The goal is to improve how the leg is straightened during surgery.
This could help to prevent or delay knee arthritis, especially in active people.
The study will check if this new tool leads to more accurate surgical outcomes.

Who may be eligible?

This study is looking for adults aged between 18 and 70 years old who are considered suitable for a knee osteotomy operation, which is a type of surgery to straighten the leg bones around the knee. You must also be well enough to have surgery and be able to give your consent to take part.

Unfortunately, you wouldn't be able to join if you're not suitable for an osteotomy, if the ligaments around your knee aren't strong enough, or if you decide not to have the surgery. You also need to be able to understand and speak English to fully participate in the study.

There is also a separate part of the study for patients considered suitable for a partial knee replacement, with similar age and health requirements.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you between 18 and 70 years old?
Are you suitable for an operation to straighten your knee bone (osteotomy)?
Are you generally well enough to have surgery?
Do you understand and speak English?
Are you willing and able to give your consent to take part?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you take part in this study, you will undergo the osteotomy operation using the new custom-made cutting block. Before and after your surgery, the research team will compare your leg alignment using X-rays and CT scans to see how accurate the correction was. You'll also be asked to complete questionnaires to share your experiences and how you feel your knee is doing. Some participants might also have their walking patterns analysed, which is called gait analysis. The total duration of your participation will depend on the follow-up schedule designed by the study team, but it primarily involves the surgery and follow-up assessments.

Potential risks and benefits

Taking part in this study might mean your osteotomy surgery is more accurate, potentially leading to a better outcome and a more successful delay in the progression of knee arthritis. As with any surgery, there are potential risks, such as infection, pain, or problems with healing, which your surgical team will discuss with you. You are free to withdraw from the study at any time without affecting your medical care.

Locations (1)

Some site locations are approximate. We're improving this — please verify with the trial team before travelling.

Charing Cross Hospital
Verified postcode
London, United Kingdom

Common questions

What is knee arthrosis?

Knee arthrosis is another term for osteoarthritis of the knee, which is a condition where the smooth cartilage padding around the knee joint wears away, causing pain and stiffness.

What is an osteotomy?

An osteotomy is a surgical procedure where a bone is cut and reshaped to correct a deformity, like straightening a leg to improve how the knee joint bears weight.

What does 'custom-made cutting block' mean?

It's a personalised guide, made specifically for your bone using your body scans, to help the surgeon make very precise cuts during the operation.

Why is this study important for young athletes?

Young athletes are at higher risk of early knee arthritis if their legs aren't straight. This surgery can help prevent or delay this, allowing them to stay active longer without needing a full knee replacement.

Will I know if I'm getting the cutting block?

If you're in the osteotomy arm of the study, the custom-made cutting block will be used during your surgery to guide the bone cuts.