Adductor TendinitisNCT04453592
Adductor Longus Tenotomy & the BKFO Test
An observational study of Adductor Tendinitis, run by Aspetar at 1 site in France.
Trial summary
The bent knee fall out test (BKFO) is a common test for hip adductor flexibility. It is unknown whether the BKFO actually tests the the adductors or potentially hip range of motion instead. In this study, the BKFO test is performed in the operating theater before and after an adductor longus tenotomy. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older, men only
- Conditions the study is for
- Adductor Tendinitis
- How many people
- 60 participants
- Where
- 1 siteFrance
- Study dates
- 22 Nov 2019to 18 Jan 2021
- Phase
- Observational
- Are there results?
- Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- Men only
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Study population: Athletes with groin pain are consecutively recruited from two clinics of a visceral surgeon specialized in groin pain in athletes. The clinics are located in Bordeaux and Paris, France, and patient population includes athletes from all over France.
Who may be able to join
- adults (>18 years old)
- athletes (recreational or elite)
- clinical diagnosis of adductor-related groin pain
- patients undergoing unilateral or bilateral adductor longus tenotomy by one general surgeon.
Who cannot join
- No specific exclusion criteria were present other than refusal to participate in the study.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: The Effect of an Adductor Longus Tenotomy on the Bent Knee Fall Out Test
The bent knee fall out test (BKFO) is a common test for hip adductor flexibility. It is unknown whether the BKFO actually tests the the adductors or potentially hip range of motion instead.
In this study, the BKFO test is performed in the operating theater before and after an adductor longus tenotomy.
Read the detailed description
Adductor-related groin pain is the most common type of groin pain in athletes, and pain at the proximal adductor longus insertion is a key finding in the diagnosis of longstanding groin pain. "Tightness" or "shortening" of the adductor longus is considered both a cause and effect of pain, that can lead to increased tension at the proximal insertion, thus playing a role in the persistence of longstanding adductor-related pain. For patients who do not respond sufficiently to non-surgical procedures, an adductor longus tenotomy is a surgical option that is considered to reduce tension at the proximal adductor longus insertion assisting in reduction of pain and return to sport.
The bent knee fall out test (BKFO) is one of the most commonly used tests to test adductor flexibility. This test involves a combined hip movement with hip flexion, abduction, and external rotation, and a high result is generally considered to be related to adductor muscle "tightness", specifically that of the adductor longus. It is uncertain whether the BKFO test is actually measuring adductor muscle flexibility or hip joint range of motion, as the test results may also be affected by a femoral head cam morphology. A slightly different test, called the Patrick FABER's test, involves a similar movement and is mainly used as a hip joint pain provocation test.
By cutting the adductor longus tendon, thereby removing the effect of potential adductor longus "tightness", it will be possible to show if and how much the flexibility of this muscle affects the BKFO test results. This will assist in future considerations of what this test is actually testing.
The aim of this study is to investigate the immediate effect of an adductor longus tenotomy on the results of the bent knee fall out test.
- Conditions
- Adductor Tendinitis
- Being tested
- No intervention assigned as part of this study.
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
No intervention assigned as part of this study.Other
The intervention included in this study is part of routine medical care, and not assigned as a result of study participation. This study includes only the addition of a measurement; the bent knee fall out test. Therefore, we believe this study design is observational, and in line with the provided observation study design definition: "Observational: studies in human beings in which biomedical and/or health outcomes are assessed in predefined groups of individuals. Participants in the study may receive diagnostic, therapeutic, or other interventions, but the investigator does not assign specific interventions to the study participants. This includes when participants receive interventions as part of routine medical care, and a researcher studies the effect of the intervention."
See uploaded study protocol for further details.
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change in the Bent Knee Fall Out Test
The patient lies supine on the surgical table with app. 90° knee flexion, 45° hip flexion, and the feet together and the hips in external rotation (also known as the frog-leg position. Standardization of position is achieved by flexing one leg first, so the medial malleolus is placed next to the medial knee joint line of the contra-lateral leg. The knee is then moved laterally, externally rotating the hip with the plantar surface placed towards the contra-lateral leg. The contra-lateral leg is then flexed, and the plantar surfaces of the feet are aligned. The distance between the most distal point on the head of the fibula and the surface of the surgical table is measured using a rigid tape measure and distance is recorded in cm to the nearest 0.5 cm
Measured: Baseline pre-surgery and immediately after the surgery.
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted1 Jul 2020
- Study start22 Nov 2019
- Primary completion22 May 2020
- Study completion18 Jan 2021
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, outcome measures and adverse events reported by the sponsor.
- Other trials for Adductor TendinitisStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Observational
- Observational model
- Case only
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Enrolment
- 60 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Aspetar
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Clinique du sport
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT04453592
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- ALTBKFO
- Status last verified
- Feb 2025
- First submitted
- 22 Jun 2020
- Last updated
- 3 Mar 2025
- Results posted
- Yes, on ClinicalTrials.gov
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Undecided: There are currently no IPD plans. IPD data be obtained upon reasonable request
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 3 Mar 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- The Effect of an Adductor Longus Tenotomy on the Bent Knee Fall Out Test
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT04453592
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- ALTBKFO
- Conditions
- Adductor Tendinitis
- Study type
- Observational
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 60 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- AspetarUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Clinique du sport
- Study start
- 22 Nov 2019 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 22 May 2020 (actual)
- Study completion
- 18 Jan 2021 (actual)
- First posted
- 1 Jul 2020 (actual)
- Results
- Posted 3 Mar 2025
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The bent knee fall out test (BKFO) is a common test for hip adductor flexibility. It is unknown whether the BKFO actually tests the the adductors or potentially hip range of motion instead.
In this study, the BKFO test is performed in the operating theater before and after an adductor longus tenotomy.
Detailed description
Adductor-related groin pain is the most common type of groin pain in athletes, and pain at the proximal adductor longus insertion is a key finding in the diagnosis of longstanding groin pain. "Tightness" or "shortening" of the adductor longus is considered both a cause and effect of pain, that can lead to increased tension at the proximal insertion, thus playing a role in the persistence of longstanding adductor-related pain. For patients who do not respond sufficiently to non-surgical procedures, an adductor longus tenotomy is a surgical option that is considered to reduce tension at the proximal adductor longus insertion assisting in reduction of pain and return to sport.
The bent knee fall out test (BKFO) is one of the most commonly used tests to test adductor flexibility. This test involves a combined hip movement with hip flexion, abduction, and external rotation, and a high result is generally considered to be related to adductor muscle "tightness", specifically that of the adductor longus. It is uncertain whether the BKFO test is actually measuring adductor muscle flexibility or hip joint range of motion, as the test results may also be affected by a femoral head cam morphology. A slightly different test, called the Patrick FABER's test, involves a similar movement and is mainly used as a hip joint pain provocation test.
By cutting the adductor longus tendon, thereby removing the effect of potential adductor longus "tightness", it will be possible to show if and how much the flexibility of this muscle affects the BKFO test results. This will assist in future considerations of what this test is actually testing.
The aim of this study is to investigate the immediate effect of an adductor longus tenotomy on the results of the bent knee fall out test.
Study design
- Observational model
- Case only
- Time perspective
- Prospective
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- Male only
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
- Study population
- Athletes with groin pain are consecutively recruited from two clinics of a visceral surgeon specialized in groin pain in athletes. The clinics are located in Bordeaux and Paris, France, and patient population includes athletes from all over France.
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- adults (>18 years old)
- athletes (recreational or elite)
- clinical diagnosis of adductor-related groin pain
- patients undergoing unilateral or bilateral adductor longus tenotomy by one general surgeon.
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- No specific exclusion criteria were present other than refusal to participate in the study.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| No intervention assigned as part of this study.The intervention included in this study is part of routine medical care, and not assigned as a result of study participation. This study includes only the addition of a measurement; the bent knee fall out test. Therefore, we believe this study design is observational, and in line with the provided observation study design definition: "Observational: studies in human beings in which biomedical and/or health outcomes are assessed in predefined groups of individuals. Participants in the study may receive diagnostic, therapeutic, or other interventions, but the investigator does not assign specific interventions to the study participants. This includes when participants receive interventions as part of routine medical care, and a researcher studies the effect of the intervention." See uploaded study protocol for further details. | Other | – |
Primary outcome
Change in the Bent Knee Fall Out Test
Time frame: Baseline pre-surgery and immediately after the surgery.
The patient lies supine on the surgical table with app. 90° knee flexion, 45° hip flexion, and the feet together and the hips in external rotation (also known as the frog-leg position. Standardization of position is achieved by flexing one leg first, so the medial malleolus is placed next to the medial knee joint line of the contra-lateral leg. The knee is then moved laterally, externally rotating the hip with the plantar surface placed towards the contra-lateral leg. The contra-lateral leg is then flexed, and the plantar surfaces of the feet are aligned. The distance between the most distal point on the head of the fibula and the surface of the surgical table is measured using a rigid tape measure and distance is recorded in cm to the nearest 0.5 cm
Results and safety
Loading the posted results from ClinicalTrials.gov…
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 3 Mar 2025.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, baseline, all outcome measures and adverse events.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Undecided. There are currently no IPD plans. IPD data be obtained upon reasonable request
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
An observational study of Adductor Tendinitis, run by Aspetar at 1 site in France.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 3 Mar 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in France. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 3 Mar 2025). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Change in the Bent Knee Fall Out Test (time frame: Baseline pre-surgery and immediately after the surgery.). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 3 Mar 2025.