Clinical Trial: Study Into the Effect of Ibandronate for the Treatment of Bone Marrow Edema in Relation to Spontaneous or Non-traumatic Osteonecrosis of the Knee: A Randomized Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Trial

Study Status: Completed
Recruit Status: Completed
Study Type: Interventional

Official Title: Study Into the Effect of Ibandronate for the Treatment of Bone Marrow Edema in Relation to Spontaneous or Non-traumatic Osteonecrosis of the Knee: A Randomized Double-blin

Brief Summary:

BACKGROUND: Bone marrow edema (BME) in the knee occurs as a localized inflammatory disease in relation to spontaneous or non-traumatic osteonecrosis (ON). Prognosis of BME/ON in the course after knee arthroscopy appears to be poor and in most cases results in knee arthroplasty. Treatment options of ON depend in general on the size of the lesion. Smaller lesions are managed by mechanical unloading and use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, larger lesion in general requires osteotomy or arthroplasty. In animal studies it has been shown that bisphosphonates prevent resorption of necrotic bone during ischemic necrosis and revascularization. In humans, bisphosphonate treatment has been used successfully in bone marrow oedema and avascular necrosis of the femoral head.

In an observational study using bisphosphonates (ibandronate, pamidronate) in patients with either spontaneous or (believed to be) arthroscopy-induced BME of the knee a significant rapid and sustained pain relief was observed with a mean decrease on the pain scale on the visual analogue scale of over 60% after 3 months and of 80% after 6 months. Our experience suggests an apparent beneficial effect of amino-bisphosphonates in the treatment of BME of the knee.

AIM: This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study aims to provide data on clinical, biochemical and radiological outcome of patients with bone marrow edema in relation to spontaneous or arthroscopy-induced ON of the knee treated with ibandronate or placebo.

ENDPOINTS: The primary objective is to demonstrate the superiority of treatment with ibandronate compared to placebo regarding clinical outcome (pain [VAS score]) in spontaneous or arthroscopy-induced BME/ON of the knee after 12 weeks. Secondary objectives include a) clinical outcome (pain

Detailed Summary:
Sponsor: University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland

Current Primary Outcome: clinical outcome (pain [VAS score]) [ Time Frame: 12 weeks ]

Original Primary Outcome: Same as current

Current Secondary Outcome:

  • clinical outcome (pain [VAS score]) [ Time Frame: 24 weeks ]
  • radiological outcome (MRI knee) [ Time Frame: 12 and 24 weeks ]
  • number of salvage therapies needed in case persistence is observed during placebo therapy [ Time Frame: 12 weeks ]


Original Secondary Outcome: Same as current

Information By: University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland

Dates:
Date Received: September 19, 2007
Date Started: December 2007
Date Completion:
Last Updated: August 25, 2015
Last Verified: August 2015