Investigations of Mechanisms and Treatment in Post-traumatic Joint Contractures

• Status: Completed
• Trial end date: 2017-08-01
• Target enrollment: 0
• Participant gender: All

Summary

Injured joints, especially at the elbow, are at risk for permanent motion loss, also known as joint contractures. Joint contractures limit the function of an elbow and are a recognized complication that occurs often after a traumatic injury. The benefits of early motion after injury has helped in preventing joint contractures but there are still several patients that develop debilitating joint contractures. Current research suggests that mast cells, which are found in the joint, are key in causing joint contractures. Research has been done using a medication called Ketotifen. Ketotifen has been linked to stabilizing mast cells and preventing the joint contracture. It is hoped that short-term use of this medication after an injury will prevent the contracture from occurring.

• Phase: Phase 2
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers?: No

Details

• Lead Sponsor: University of Calgary
• Collaborators: American Foundation for Surgery of the Hand; American Society for Surgery of the Hand; Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR); Workers' Compensation Board, Alberta
• Treatments: Ketotifen

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age ≥ 18 years old

• Isolated distal 1/3 humerus fractures

• Proximal 1/3 ulna fractures

• Proximal 1/3 radial fractures

• Elbow dislocations

• Open fractures with or without nerve injury

• Presentation to Peter Lougheed Centre (PLC), Foothills Medical Centre (FMC) or South Health Campus (SHC).

Exclusion Criteria:

• Pre-existing elbow contracture

• Osteoarthritis of affected elbow

• Inflammatory arthritis of affected elbow

• Gout of affected elbow

• Nonspecific monoarticular arthritis of the affected elbow

• Inability to give informed consent due to irreversible cognitive disorder

• Inability to comply with post-operative physiotherapy

• Injury > 7 days at the time of presentation

• Inability to mobilize elbow injury within 2 weeks of injury or surgery

• Pregnancy

• Breast feeding

• Oral hypoglycemic medications

• History of epilepsy

• Lactose intolerance