Extramembranous and Interosseous Technique of Tibialis Posterior Tendon Transfer
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ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01751503 |
Recruitment Status :
Terminated
(investigator no longer available on site)
First Posted : December 18, 2012
Last Update Posted : March 11, 2020
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Foot drop deformity is a life limiting condition characterized by loss of ankle dorsiflexion and eversion. Main condition leading to drop foot condition include irrecoverable muscle and nerve injuries, poliomyelitis, drug poisoning, strokes, cerebral palsy, Charcot - Marie - Tooth disease, meningomyelocele, club foot, Friedreich's ataxia and Leprosy (1-4).
Anterior transposition of Posterior tibialis tendon (PTT) is the gold standard for surgical restoration of functional dorsiflexion of a permanently paralyzed foot (1, 4-10). Two methods of rerouting the posterior tibialis tendon have been reported, one through the interosseous membrane i.e. Interosseous route (7, 10) and second subcutaneously around the medial side of tibia i.e. Extramembranous or circumtibial route (11-13). Both these techniques have been widely described in literature (4-16) and are being extensively used in surgical management of foot drop. The selection of technique depends on surgeon choice and patient factors.
There is a clinical equipoise with regards to these two techniques of Tibialis posterior tendon transfer and through our study we aim to compare the clinical and functional outcomes of these two techniques. There are no studies in literature which compare the clinical and functional outcomes with regards to both these methods. Although there are many studies to demonstrate the functional and clinical effectiveness of the respective procedures, there is a paucity of clinical trials comparing these two surgical techniques with regards to clinical and functional outcomes. Furthermore there are no head to head clinical trials to compare the outcomes with regards to these two methods of Tibialis Posterior tendon transfer (Medline search dated 03/03/ 2012)
we propose to compare the clinical and functional outcomes with regards to the two techniques i.e extra membranous and Interosseous technique of Tibialis Posterior tendon transfer performed in patients with foot drop as a result of nerve palsy.
Through our prospective randomized trial we aim to answer the research question, whether one method has any superior outcome over the other?
Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
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Muscle Injury Nerve Injury Poliomyelitis Leprosy Cerebral Palsy | Procedure: Interosseous route of TPTT Procedure: Extra membranous route of TPTT | Not Applicable |
Foot drop deformity is a life limiting condition. This has far reaching consequences in patients of all age groups. Anterior transfer of tibialis posterior tendon is now regarded as the gold standard treatment as this allows walking without wearing an orthosis and thus substantial improvement in quality of life. This equally applies to developing and developed world.
The rationale for our study is that that there is a clinical equipoise with regards to these two techniques of Tibialis posterior tendon transfer and through our study we aim to compare the clinical and functional outcomes of these two techniques. Both these techniques have been widely described in literature (References attached) and are being extensively used in surgical management of foot drop. The selection of technique depends on surgeon choice and patient factors.
There are no studies in literature which compare the clinical and functional outcomes with regards to both these methods. Although there are many studies to demonstrate the functional and clinical effectiveness of the respective procedures, there is a paucity of clinical trials comparing these two surgical techniques with regards to clinical and functional outcomes. Furthermore there are no head to head clinical trials to compare the outcomes with regards to these two methods of Tibialis Posterior tendon transfer (Pub med search dated 12/03/2012)
This study is of great interest to health care professionals managing foot drop both in developing and developed world. The answer to our research question; whether one surgical technique has better clinical, functional and quality of life over the other, will greatly impact the future surgical management of foot drop.
Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Estimated Enrollment : | 52 participants |
Allocation: | Randomized |
Intervention Model: | Parallel Assignment |
Masking: | Single (Outcomes Assessor) |
Primary Purpose: | Treatment |
Official Title: | Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing Extramembranous and Interosseous Technique of Tibialis Posterior Tendon Transfer. |
Study Start Date : | March 2013 |
Actual Primary Completion Date : | December 2019 |
Actual Study Completion Date : | December 2019 |

Arm | Intervention/treatment |
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Active Comparator: Interosseous route of TPTT
The investigators will have two groups of patients, one who had their tendon transfer using the extra membranous route and other group which had their tendon transfer through the interosseous route. Patients will be randomized to either groups before the surgery and both the patients and the assessors will be blinded to the technique used. Both these techniques have been widely described in literature and are being extensively used in surgical management of foot drop. The selection of technique depends on surgeon choice and patient factors.
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Procedure: Interosseous route of TPTT
Anterior transposition of Posterior tibialis tendon (PTT) is the gold standard for surgical restoration of functional dorsiflexion of a permanently paralyzed foot. Two methods of rerouting the posterior tibialis tendon have been reported, one through the interosseous membrane i.e. Interosseous route and second subcutaneously around the medial side of tibia i.e. Extramembranous or circumtibial route. Both these techniques have been widely described in literature and are being extensively used in surgical management of foot drop. The selection of technique depends on surgeon choice and patient factors |
Active Comparator: Extra membranous route of TPTT
Extramembranous or circumtibial route of Tibialis Posterior tendon transfer.Both these techniques have been widely described in literature and are being extensively used in surgical management of foot drop. The selection of technique depends on surgeon choice and patient factors
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Procedure: Extra membranous route of TPTT
Rerouting the posterior tibialis tendon subcutaneously around the medial side of tibia i.e. Extramembranous or circumtibial route ( |
- Change in Functional and clinical outcome at 6 and 12 months in these two groups using the Stanmore score. [ Time Frame: 6 and 12 months ]The Stanmore score is unique, as being the only score to evaluate the results specific to tendon transfers for foot drop. Though this score is not validated but has been widely used as an outcome measure in various studies on tendon transfers. One of the secondary aims of the study will be to validate the Stanmore score.
- Visual analogue scale foot and ankle (VAS FA) score [ Time Frame: 3,6 and 12 months ]To compare VASFA, EQ-5D in the two groups of patients at 3, 6 and 12 months. We will also record the dynamic and static foot pressure measurements in these two groups of patients at 3, 6 and 12 months
- EQ-5D [ Time Frame: 3,6 and 12 Months ]We will use EQ-5D as an index of quality of life and will compare it with normalized values for UK population
- Validate the Stanmore score. [ Time Frame: 6 and 12 Months ]Validation of the Stanmore score. Data for the validation will be provided as part of another study, which aims to validate the score.
- Dynamic and static foot pressure measurement [ Time Frame: 3,6 and 12 Months ]dynamic and static foot pressure measurement will be analysed using Foot pressure scanner. This is a one test, which determines the foot movement.

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Ages Eligible for Study: | 16 Years to 85 Years (Child, Adult, Older Adult) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | Yes |
Inclusion Criteria:
- Traumatic peroneal nerve injuries in age group 16 yrs to 80 yrs Upper-level nerve injuries after hip and lumbar surgery
Exclusion Criteria:
- Sciatic nerve injuries with tibial component Previous fractures to Distal 1/3rd Tibia and fibula Previous history of Neuropathy Patients who are mentally challenged, vulnerable or non- English speakers will not be part of our study.

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT01751503
United Kingdom | |
Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust | |
London, Middlesex, United Kingdom, HA7 4LP |
Study Director: | Michael Fox, FRCS (T&0) | Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust | |
Principal Investigator: | Jagwant Singh, MBBS, MRCS | Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust |
Responsible Party: | Iva Hauptmannova, Research & Development Manager, Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT01751503 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
RCT- PTTT RNOH- PNI- RCT-PTTT ( Other Identifier: RNOH- PNI ) |
First Posted: | December 18, 2012 Key Record Dates |
Last Update Posted: | March 11, 2020 |
Last Verified: | March 2020 |
Foot drop deformity gold standard treatment Tibialis posterior tendon transfer Interosseous route Extramembranous or circumtibial route |
Leprosy Poliomyelitis Cerebral Palsy Wounds and Injuries Brain Damage, Chronic Brain Diseases Central Nervous System Diseases Nervous System Diseases Enterovirus Infections Picornaviridae Infections |
RNA Virus Infections Virus Diseases Myelitis Central Nervous System Infections Spinal Cord Diseases Neuromuscular Diseases Mycobacterium Infections Actinomycetales Infections Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections Bacterial Infections |