Efficacy of Surgery for Idiopathic Toe Walking (NCT06610591) | Clinical Trial Compass
RecruitingNot Applicable
Efficacy of Surgery for Idiopathic Toe Walking
United Kingdom20 participantsStarted 2024-09-09
Plain-language summary
BACKGROUND:
For children who walk on their tip toes, surgery is often done to lengthen their Achilles Tendon. However, there is little research to help children's surgeons choose which children with idiopathic toe walking should have surgery.
METHODS:
This research study will investigate how effective surgery to lengthen the Achilles Tendon is for children with idiopathic toe walking. It will explore if the children\'s quality of life, endurance, strength, range of movement or walking pattern improves after they have had surgery.
This study is a pilot study with 20 participants. This means the results will be used to decide if a larger trial is needed.
Who can participate
Age range
8 Years – 16 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:
* Children aged 8-16 at recruitment.
* Idiopathic toe walkers based on clinicians' assessment.
* Plantarflexion contracture with knee extended of 0 degrees or less of dorsiflexion.
* Listed for surgical lengthening of the plantarflexors.
Exclusion Criteria:
* Unable to give informed assent or consent. Previous surgery to the lower limb.
* Unable to effectively participate in gait analysis (e.g. unable to walk 10-metres unaided, unable to walk independently, allergy to adhesive for skin markers, hyperhidrosis).
* Underlying diagnoses which may cause toe walking (e.g. muscular dystrophy, split cord malformation, cerebral palsy).
* Listed for additional procedures in the surgery for the lengthening of the plantarflexors.
* Awaiting further investigations or neurology assessment for toe walking pattern.
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
1
Oxford Ankle Foot Questionnaire for Children (OxAFQ-C)
Timeframe: Pre-surgery / six months post-surgery / one year post-surgery