Clinical Research Directory

Does Performing a Composite Test 3 Months Post-operatively Reduce the Risk of Failure to Return to Sport After Lateral Ankle Ligamentoplasty?

Ankle sprain is one of the most common pathologies in the general population (between 2.1 and 3.2 per 1000 patients per year). Nearly 40% of patients will develop chronic instability in the year following the sprain. We also know that a premature return to sport is a risk factor for developing chronic instability. However, despite the consensus of experts on the subject which have shown the key physiological elements to evaluate before resuming sport, no test or cohort of tests are proposed to allow a safe return to sport by reducing the risks of relapse. Some very recent studies have appeared on non-operated subjects but this remains a subject that is still too little studied, where the lack of consensus and objective criteria increases the risk of instability. Surgical treatment remains an effective option to reduce the risk of recurrence but failure of the latter can occur in approximately 13-37% of patients depending on the population, due to a relapse or a return to sport which does not correspond to expectations. of the patient. The objective of the study is therefore to evaluate the predictive nature of a composite test (ANKLE-GO) regarding the return to sport at the same level and the risks of recurrence.

Ankle Instability Using Foot Intensive Rehabilitation

The overall objective of this study is to examine the effects of a 6-week foot-intensive rehabilitation (FIRE) program on lateral ankle sprain (LAS) re-injury rates, CAI symptoms, sensorimotor function, and self-reported disability in CAI patients.

Resurfacing of Foot and Distal Leg Soft Tissue Defects Using Reversed Pedicled Peroneal Artery Flaps Augmented by Superficial Sural Artery

Wounds involving the skin and soft tissue of the lower leg, ankle, heel, and foot can be difficult to treat because there is very little skin and tissue available in that area to cover the wound. When the wound is large or involves exposed bone or tendon, a flap, which is a piece of skin and tissue moved from a nearby area, is needed to close it. This study evaluates a surgical technique called the Reversed Peroneal Artery Flap (RPAF). In this procedure, a flap of skin and tissue from the outer side of the lower leg is lifted and rotated to cover the wound. The blood supply to the flap comes from the peroneal artery, which runs along the fibula bone, and is augmented by the superficial sural artery to improve flap survival. The study will include 30 adult patients who have soft tissue defects of the distal leg, ankle, heel, or foot. All patients will undergo the RPAF procedure at Assiut University Hospitals, Egypt. The main goal is to measure how well the flap survives after surgery. Secondary goals include assessing complications, functional recovery, and the condition of the donor site.

Neurophysiology of Ankle Instability

Chronic ankle instability (CAI) is a common debilitating orthopedic condition that disrupts physical function and decreases quality of life. Not all CAI is the same. It can be mechanical ligamentous laxity, perceived disability often referred to as functional instability, or a combination of the two. However, clinicians and researchers most often combine all chronic ankle instability patients without considering these sub-groups, which may account for poor recovery and recurrence. The objective of this research is to determine functional and neurophysiological differences between sub-groups of CAI to allow for development of evidence-based rehabilitation which may improve patient outcomes. To accomplish this, the study will determine the differences among CAI sub-groups on performance of a traditional side-hop test and neurocognitive hop test, determine differences in neurophysiological response and motor control between CAI sub-groups during a lower limb and an ankle specific task, and determine the underlying neurophysiological effects of a 4-week neurocognitively enhanced balance training protocol among CAI subgroups. Time to complete each of the hop tests, cortical activation during the balance and force control tasks, and neurocognitive performance will be assessed to determine differences in performance and neurological function among subgroups of CAI

Comparing Clinical Outcomes of Suture Button Versus Fibulink Fixation for Acute Ankle Syndesmosis Injuries

This project consists of a randomized controlled study design. Study candidates will include all patients 18 years or older, who were evaluated at UCSD and found to have an acute ankle syndesmosis injury requiring surgery. Patients who consent to study participation will be randomized to receive one of two standard of care procedures - either a suture button or Fibulink implant. Outcome measures, including the Olerud-Molander and American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society scores, pain, range of motion, time to return to work, and radiographic evaluation will be collected for each participant. Given the potential degenerative changes and poor radiographic and clinical outcomes with inadequate repair of the syndesmosis, it is imperative to evaluate existing and emerging methods of fixation for patients with acute ankle fractures with syndesmosis injuries.

Outpatient Floor Pedal Bike Utilization

The goals of this clinical trial are: to test the feasibility of identifying patients and getting patients the floor pedal bikes, to test how well floor pedal bikes help patients with lower body injuries heal, and to test methods of patient self-reported logs for home pedal bike use. Participants will be given a floor pedal bike at first post-operative appointment where weightbearing restrictions are lifted (weight-bearing as tolerated) along with instructions on utilization. Participants will be asked to complete patient reported outcome measure surveys at each follow-up visit.

The Safety of Reusing Walking Boot Components for Patients Recovering From Acute Foot and Ankle Injuries

The investigators primary purposes is to determine the safety of reusing a specific durable medical equipment (DME) item (walking boots) components for patients recovering from acute foot and ankle injuries. The investigators secondary purpose is to determine the number of reuse episodes specific walking boot components can endure without increased failure rates. To support further study of DME reuse, product design, and advocate for evolving regulations that promote waste reduction via development of reusable DME products in the US.

JuggerKnot With Broadband PMCF Study

The purpose of the study is to collect post-market clinical follow-up data, which is needed to confirm the safety and performance of the JuggerKnot device and meet existing EU regulatory requirements.

Assessment of the Quality of Life of Patients Visiting the Emergency Department of the Saint-Brieuc Hospital Following an Ankle Sprain

Lateral ankle sprains account for nearly 6,500 emergency department visits per day in France. They are clinically classified into three grades, which can be assessed approximately 3-5 days after an acute sprain. However, this classification remains somewhat approximate, with only mild and severe sprains being reliably identified. When it comes to immobilization, if weight-bearing is possible, treatment options include an elastic ankle brace for mild sprains, taping, or a semi-rigid orthosis known as a "stabilizing" brace. It is worth noting that, according to Rodineau and Besch, the preferred form of immobilization is the semi-rigid orthosis. In cases of severe sprains where weight-bearing is not possible, rigid immobilization may be used. To date, few thesis-level studies have focused on trauma care and the outpatient follow-up of ankle sprains. Two studies from the early 2010s assessed general practice management of trauma using questionnaires-one in Seine-Maritime and another in Bouches-du-Rhône. The latter study found that 96.7% of surveyed physicians reported managing all types of sprains. In the Seine-Maritime study, half of the physicians systematically followed up on ankle sprains, while the other half only did so if the patient's condition worsened. It was also found that nearly 47% of physicians referred their patients directly to emergency departments. This pathway was more frequently chosen by urban practitioners or those without specific training in trauma care. Except in certain predefined cases depending on the hospital, there is currently no systematic follow-up for ankle sprains in emergency departments. Most patients are redirected toward follow-up in outpatient care. The objective of this research project is to assess the recovery of baseline quality of life in participants who consulted the emergency department of Saint-Brieuc for an ankle sprain, three months after the injury. The evaluation will take into account the type of follow-up care (physician, physiotherapist) as well as the severity of the sprain.

The Applicability of the Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool in Basketball Athletes.

The aim of our study is to evaluate the applicability, validity, and reliability of the Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool (CAIT) in basketball athletes. Given that a significant proportion of injuries in basketball occur in the ankle, our study holds importance for instability assessments conducted in this population. If the Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool is found to be applicable in basketball athletes, it may be utilized in future research.

Spinal and Supraspinal Control in Chronic Ankle Instability

Ankle sprains are common sports injuries that often lead to chronic ankle instability (CAI). Patients with CAI experience deficits in neuromuscular control (NMC), including proprioception and strength. It is believed that damage to the ankle's ligament mechanoreceptors and the peroneal nerve after the initial ankle sprain can cause alterations in NMC, resulting in postural control and dynamic joint stability dysfunction. Inflammation related to recurrent ankle sprains may also contribute to neuromuscular impairments. Evidence suggests that bilateral postural control deficits occur after an ankle sprain, suggesting alterations in the central nervous system (CNS). Rehabilitation for CAI has been shown to lead to bilateral improvements in NMC, potentially due to neural alterations at both the spinal and supraspinal levels. Cross-education, which refers to the muscular crossed effect of unilateral training, has also been proposed as a mechanism for improving contralateral strength in neurologically healthy individuals. While the exact mechanisms underlying cross-education are not yet fully understood, evidence suggests that it involves neural adaptations at both spinal and supraspinal levels. This study aims to investigate the cross-education effect of a 6-week, unilateral balance training on corticomotor excitability, motor neuron pool excitability, and static and dynamic balance in athletes with chronic ankle instability.

Kinesio Taping Effects on Balance and Ankle Proprioception

Ankle injuries are among the most common musculoskeletal injuries, affecting both athletes and the general population. Various methods are used to prevent such injuries, but the effectiveness of different kinesio taping applications on joint position sense and balance remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the effects of different kinesio taping techniques on proprioception and postural stability in healthy young adults. By identifying changes in balance and proprioception before injuries occur, the findings may provide clinical insights into the potential role of kinesio taping in rehabilitation and injury prevention.

The Effect of Taping on Plantar Pressure Distribution in Players With Chronic Ankle Instability

The goal of this study is to investigate whether there exists a difference in baropdometric readings of plantar pressure between individuals with chronic ankle instability and normal health individuals, in addition another goal of this study is to investigate the effect of rigid taping vs. kinesio taping on plantar pressure distribution as well as stability markers in individuals with chronic ankle instability. The main questions aimed to answer are: 1. Is there a difference in plantar pressure distribution between individuals with chronic ankle instability and individuals without chronic ankle instability? 2. What effect do rigid and kinesio taping have on plantar pressure distribution and ankle stability markers? 3. Which tape affects plantar pressure distribution and ankle stability better? Participants will: Firstly be divided into two macro groups, one with chronic ankle instability and one without, with an observational part of the study to be carried out to investigate the differences in plantar pressure between both groups. Secondly, the group with chronic ankle instability will be divided into two micro groups one receiving rigid taping and the other receiving kinesio taping, and the immediate effects of these tapes in terms of plantar pressure and ankle stability will be recorded and compared before and after within groups, and after between both groups.

Functional Outcomes Following Ankle Fracture Fixation With or Without Ankle Arthroscopy

The aim of our study is to identify if there is statistically significant difference in patient reported functional outcomes in cases of unstable ankle fracture managed by ORIF with and without ankle arthroscopy.