Assessment of the Quality of Life of Patients Visiting the Emergency Department of the Saint-Brieuc Hospital Following an Ankle Sprain
Recruiting now
Conditions studied: Ankle Injuries, Treatment Outcome
In brief
Lateral ankle sprains account for nearly 6,500 emergency department visits per day in France. They are clinically classified into three grades, which can be assessed approximately 3-5 days after an acute sprain. However, this classification remains somewhat approximate, with only mild and severe sprains being reliably identified. When it comes to immobilization, if weight-bearing is possible, treatment options include an elastic ankle brace for mild sprains, taping, or a semi-rigid orthosis known as a "stabilizing" brace. It is worth noting that, according to Rodineau and Besch, the preferred form of immobilization is the semi-rigid orthosis. In cases of severe sprains where weight-bearing is not possible, rigid immobilization may be used. To date, few thesis-level studies have focused on trauma care and the outpatient follow-up of ankle sprains. Two studies from the early 2010s assessed general practice management of trauma using questionnaires-one in Seine-Maritime and another in Bouches-du-Rhône. The latter study found that 96.7% of surveyed physicians reported managing all types of sprains. In the Seine-Maritime study, half of the physicians systematically followed up on ankle sprains, while the other half only did so if the patient's condition worsened. It was also found that nearly 47% of physicians referred their patients directly to emergency departments. This pathway was more frequently chosen by urban practitioners or those without specific training in trauma care. Except in certain predefined cases depending on the hospital, there is currently no systematic follow-up for ankle sprains in emergency departments. Most patients are redirected toward follow-up in outpatient care. The objective of this research project is to assess the recovery of baseline quality of life in participants who consulted the emergency department of Saint-Brieuc for an ankle sprain, three months after the injury. The evaluation will take into account the type of follow-up care (physician, physiotherapist) as well as the severity of the sprain.
Key facts
- Study ID
- NCT07054892
- Run by
- Centre Hospitalier de Saint-Brieuc
- People needed
- 176
- Starts
- 2025-04-01
- Expected to finish
- 2025-10-01
- Last updated by the study team
- 2025-07-11
Who can join
Age: 18 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.
You may qualify if…
- Age ≥ 18 years
- Ankle trauma
- Initial consultation at the emergency department of Saint-Brieuc
You may not qualify if…
- Surgical treatment following the trauma
- Fracture resulting from the trauma
- Ligament or bone injury to either lower limb (knee, hip, ankle) occurring within 6 months prior to the trauma
- Injury to another joint during the trauma with functional impairment
- Adult under legal protection (guardianship, trusteeship, or judicial protection) or deprived of liberty
- Pregnant woman
Where it is running
- Centre Hospitalier de Saint-Brieuc - Paimpol - Tréguier — Saint-Brieuc, France (enrolling)
Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov
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