CompletedPhase 4

Evaluation of Arthroscopic Reconstruction of the Anterior Cruciate Ligament by One Night Hospital Stay or by Day Surgery: a Randomised, Prospective Clinical Trial

Belgium60 participantsStarted 2008-07-30

Plain-language summary

Patients who suffered from a rupture of the Anterior Cruciate Ligament with instability of the knee joint, will be treated with an operative ACL-reconstruction. One group of patients will stay one night in the hospital and go home the other day (Group I). The other group of patients will go home the same day of surgery (Group II). All patients will undergo the same arthroscopic reconstruction of the ACL. Anesthesia will be performed on each patient in a classic manner. At the end of the surgery each group of patients will be randomly divided in two subgroups: one group will get an injection in the knee joint with 20 ml of physiological fluid (Group Ia en IIa), the other group will get an injection in the knee joint with 20 ml of chirocaine 0.125%, a widely used pain-medicine (Group Ib and IIb). This will happen in a double blind, randomized way. The whole procedure takes about one hour. After surgery patients are brought to the recovery room and are observed every 30 minutes for the duration of 4 hours. Before being brought to their rooms, patients will have to fill in a VAS: Visual Analogue Scale, to determine their pain. After being brought to their rooms, the patients will have the choice of going home the same day or staying in the hospital for one night, according to the amount of pain they are in. That moment it will be possible to switch groups. Patients who go home the same day of surgery will be contacted by phone the day after to fill in a question form. Patients who were admitted for one night will be seen before their leave to fill in the same question form.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * Patients who suffered from a isolated rupture of the Anterior Cruciate Ligament with instability of the knee joint will be included in the study. * Patients with a meniscal tear that can be sutured will also be included. Partial meniscectomies are accepted. Exclusion Criteria: * Patients with chronic laxity (longer than 9 months), associated collateral laxity (grade III), subtotal or total meniscectomy, infection or inflammatory disease of the knee joint or large cartilage lesion will not be included in the study.

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Visual Analogue Scale

Timeframe: within 4 hours after surgery

Trial details

NCT IDNCT00620477

SponsorUniversity Hospital, Ghent

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2010-11-03

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Rupture of the Anterior Cruciate Ligament With Instability of the Knee Joint trials