Plantaris release for non-insertional Achilles tendinopathy
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A comparison of intra-operative and ultrasound guided plantaris release for the treatment of non-insertional Achilles tendinopathy\n
IRAS ID
194521
Contact name
J Stephen
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Ms Mary Jones
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 11 months, 3 days
Research summary
Rubbing between the end part of two muscles (tendons) in the ankle has been recognised to cause pain and swelling in a population of patients who suffer from ankle pain. Typically these patients are treated with physiotherapy including stretching exercises and a strengthening programme. They can be also given painkillers and advised to rest, to help symptoms. If these interventions fail then there is the option to administer injections locally to the area in these patients and this does result in some positive outcomes. However, despite these interventions, as many as 29% of patients fail to respond to conservative management or injection therapy, with many having to give up all sporting activities.\nThe last resort treatment for this problem therefore, when patients have exhausted all less invasive measures, is surgical intervention. This involves removing one of the tendons through 30mm cut at the inside of the ankle. Currently this is performed in theatres under general anaesthetic with good or excellent results being reported in 90% and 94% of athletes managing to return to sport following the intervention. However the procedure involves patient undergoing surgery and the associated anaesthetic risk.\nThis study aims to investigate whether these same patients can be treated successfully using a minimally invasive technique to cut the plantaris tendon through a 5mm cut performed under ultrasound guidance in the clinic setting. This would avoid the need for anaesthetic and the associated costs of surgical intervention. Currently it is not known whether this offers as good results as the surgical procedure, and therefore this study proposes to undertake a randomised trial to compare the two procedures in a population of these patients who fail to respond to conservative treatment or injection. \n \n
REC name
London - Hampstead Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/LO/0188
Date of REC Opinion
18 Mar 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion