Title

Iontophoresis With Dexamethasone and Physical Therapy to Treat Apophysitis of the Knee in Pediatrics
Iontophoresis With Dexamethasone in Combination With Physical Therapy for the Treatment of Pediatric Patients Diagnosed With Apophysitis of the Knee: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial
  • Phase

    Phase 2
  • Study Type

    Interventional
  • Status

    Completed No Results Posted
  • Study Participants

    46
The goal of this clinical research study is to determine if there is a difference in time to meet return to sport criteria for Pediatric patients with apophysitis of the knee who receive iontophoresis with Dexamethasone Sodium Phosphate (DSP) and Physical Therapy (PT) as those who receive iontophoresis with placebo and PT or PT alone.

Approximately 147 patients will be enrolled in this study.
Iontophoresis is a treatment that allows medication to be delivered across your skin to the painful area without having to have an injection into your muscle or soft tissue, through a vein in your arm, or taking a pill. Instead, liquid medication is placed on a patch (like a large Band-Aid) and then placed on your knee over the location where it hurts. A plastic device, like a battery, is then attached to the patch for three minutes. During this time, this device begins to deliver the medication through your skin and into the area that hurts, and also charges the patch so it can continue to deliver the medication for two hours once the device is removed. The medication is delivered by a mild electrical current. The most common drug used with iontophoresis for pain caused by such things as apophysitis of the knee is dexamethasone sodium phosphate (dexamethasone).

This is an investigational study. Dexamethasone is a steroid medication that has been approved by the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat many types of problems (such as joint problems, skin and allergy problems, eye, stomach, and lung problems), but has not been approved to treat apophysitis of the knee using iontophoresis. In this study, it is an experimental drug.

Participants will be randomized to one of three treatment groups:

Physical therapy with iontophoresis using Dexamethasone
Physical therapy with iontophoresis using an inactive drug called a placebo
Physical therapy alone

Participants will be asked to attend study visits twice/week for up to 8 weeks or until they are able to pass the Return To Sport Checklist, whichever is sooner. Participants will the receive a 30-Day Follow Up phone call and complete a survey at the 90-Day mark, making each participant's study duration approximately five (5) months.
Study Started
Nov 05
2018
Primary Completion
Dec 22
2021
Study Completion
Mar 01
2023
Last Update
Aug 30
2023

Drug Dexamethasone Sodium Phosphate

Dexamethasone sodium phosphate administered via iontophoresis

Procedure Iontophoresis

Iontophoresis on affected knee

Procedure Physical Therapy

Physical therapy of affected knee

Iontophoresis with Dexamethasone Experimental

Iontophoresis is a non-invasive delivery mechanism for transmitting a medication to a local area of the body. The I-Bresis™ System and I-Bresis™ Patch will be the delivery system used for this study. The I-Bresis™ Patch is an adhesive patch. 1.5 ml of the dexamethasone sodium phosphate (4ml/1mL) will be placed on one side and 1.5 ml of 0.9% sodium chloride (saline) solution will be placed on the other. Duration of exposure: 123 minutes. Frequency of exposure: twice per week for a total of 12 sessions over a maximum of 8 weeks or until Return to Sport Criteria are met, whichever is sooner. Participants will also receive the standard PT protocol for apophysitis of the knee. This will involve up to 20 visits.

Iontophoresis with Sodium Chloride Placebo Comparator

Iontophoresis is a non-invasive delivery mechanism for transmitting a medication to a local area of the body. The I-Bresis™ System and I-Bresis™ Patch will be the delivery system used for this study. The I-Bresis™ Patch is an adhesive patch. 1.5 ml of 0.9% sodium chloride (saline) solution will be placed on one side and 1.5 ml of 0.9% saline solution will be placed on the other. Duration of exposure: 123 minutes. Frequency of exposure: twice per week for a total of 12 sessions over a maximum of 8 weeks or until Return to Sport Criteria are met, whichever is sooner. Participants will also receive the standard PT protocol for apophysitis of the knee. This will involve up to 20 visits.

Physical Therapy alone Active Comparator

Participants will only receive the standard PT protocol for apophysitis of the knee. This will involve up to 20 visits.

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

Written approval from the referring physician for potential subject to be considered for enrollment into this study
Provision of signed and dated informed consent form
Stated willingness to comply with all study procedures and availability for the duration of the study
In good general health as evidenced by written approval from referring physician for potential inclusion in study.
Has the ability to effectively identify pain/burns and communicate with the investigators or their parents that they are experiencing pain or burning during treatment
Referred to CHKD Sports Medicine PT by CHKD Primary Care Sports Medicine physicians or CHKD Orthopedics physicians with a diagnosis of apophysitis of the knee and with a prescription for standard PT treatment with iontophoresis
Able and willing to complete iontophoresis treatments within eight (8) weeks of first treatment
Must be ambulatory
Males 7 to 14 years of age who have not reached skeletal maturity (skeletal maturity based on referring physician's clinical judgement or as demonstrated via radiograph images taken within 90 days of enrollment)

Females 7 to 14 years of age who have not reached skeletal maturity (skeletal maturity based on referring physician's clinical judgement or as demonstrated via radiograph images taken within 90 days of enrollment) and who meet one of the following criteria:

Pre-menarcheal
Within two (2) year post onset of menses
Males or females over the age of 14 only with radiographic evidence of skeletal immaturity, with images taken within 90 days of enrollment
Index knee symptomatic for pain with activities of daily living or while playing sports.

Exclusion Criteria:

Index knee symptomatic for pain only with palpation and not with activities of daily living or while playing sport
Diagnosis of bilateral apophysitis of the knee where both knees meet all of the inclusion criteria
Systemic fungal infections
Has an implanted electronic device
Has a known sensitivity to DSP
Presence of damaged skin, denuded skin, or other recent scar tissue on index knee
Presence of active dermatologic conditions in the affected area (e.g., eczema, psoriasis)
Presence of an abnormal neurological exam that indicates the subject would have a reduced ability to perceive pain (e.g. peripheral neuropathy)
Has a known sensitivity to electrical current
Is currently taking systemic steroids
Has had iontophoresis with DSP treatment within the past 30 days
Previously enrolled in this study
Currently enrolled in another treatment research study
No Results Posted