Thromboprophylaxis in Lower Limb Immobilisation (TiLLI): a multicentre study comprising two linked open label phase III randomised controlled trials evaluating the effectiveness and cost effectiveness of different methods of pharmacological prophylaxis for patients with temporary lower limb immobilisation.

ISRCTN ISRCTN13806452
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN13806452
IRAS number 1009305
ClinicalTrials.gov number NCT06370273
Secondary identifying numbers V1.0-26/04/24, IRAS 1009305, CPMS 62644
Submission date
10/05/2024
Registration date
30/07/2024
Last edited
12/09/2024
Recruitment status
Recruiting
Overall study status
Ongoing
Condition category
Injury, Occupational Diseases, Poisoning
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data
Record updated in last year

Plain English Summary

Background and study aims
People have an increased risk of blood clots when they have a leg injury treated with a plaster cast or a splint, which happens to over 70,000 people every year in the UK. Blood clots can cause long term problems in the legs and can also move to the lungs, causing serious illness and occasionally death. Medicines are available to reduce the risk of blood clots, but they can also increase the risk of bleeding. In people at high risk of clots, most hospitals use the recommended daily injections which can be uncomfortable and sometimes difficult to give. Tablets are available that reduce the risk of blood clots in other groups, but we don’t know if tablets work as well as the injections for people with a leg injury. We also don’t know whether people at low risk of blood clots may benefit from any medication.

Our study has two aims - to determine whether giving tablets to people at high risk of clots after a leg injury is as good as injections, and whether giving any medication is better than standard care (advice only) for people at low risk of clots. TiLLI is two linked studies designed to answer these aims.

Who can participate?
Patients aged 16 years or older, placed in temporary lower limb immobilisation (rigid cast or brace) as a result of an injury that occurred within the last 7 days.

What does the study involve?
Participants will be invited who have been placed in a plaster cast or splint after injury and are being assessed for clot risk. People who agree and are at high risk of clots will have either tablets or injections to reduce their risk; those at low risk will receive tablets, injections, or no medication. Patients and doctors will know what medication they are taking. All patients will be provided with written guidance on the signs and symptoms of blood clots and advice on managing their medication.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Benefits:
Not provided at time of registration
Risks:
TiLLI-Low: the standard of care for participants considered to be low risk for VTE receive no pharmacological prophylaxis. In TiLLI-Low, participants may be randomised to receive routine care (no prophylaxis), Direct Oral AntiCoagulant (DOAC), or Low Molecular Weight Heparin (LWMH). Administration of anticoagulants may induce a propensity for increased bleeding, which may lead to several complications, including: haematuria, melena or haematochezia, pronounced ecchymosis, prolonged episodes of epistaxis, gingival bleeding, haematemesis or haemoptysis, menorrhagia. Major bleeding events and clinically-relevant bleeding events will be monitored throughout the study.

Within the LMWH cohort requiring self-injection, risks such as cutaneous ecchymosis a or irritation at the injection site.

TiLLI-high: the standard of care for participants considered to be high risk for VTE is pharmacological prophylaxis in the form of LMWH. In TiLLI-high, participants will be randomised to receive either routine care (LMWH) or DOAC. Use of DOACs are contraindicated in pregnancy and breast feeding, as such we will exclude participants who are pregnant, actively seeking pregnancy, or breast feeding from the study.

Where is the study run from?
Queen Mary University of London (UK)

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
May 2024 to April 2028

Who is funding the study?
National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) (UK).

Who is the main contact?
tilli-bjh@qmul.ac.uk
Dr Xavier Griffin, x.griffin@qmul.ac.uk

Contact information

Dr - TiLLI study team
Scientific

Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road
London
E1 4UJ
United Kingdom

Phone +44 20 7882 5555
Email tilli-bjh@qmul.ac.uk
Prof Xavier Griffin
Principal Investigator

4 Newark Street
London
E1 2AT
United Kingdom

Phone +44 7983829494
Email x.griffin@qmul.ac.uk
Prof Daniel Horner
Principal Investigator

Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust, Salford Royal, Stott Lane
Salford
M6 8HD
United Kingdom

Email Daniel.horner@srft.nhs.uk

Study information

Study designInterventional randomized parallel-group controlled trial
Primary study designInterventional
Secondary study designRandomised controlled trial
Study setting(s)Hospital
Study typeSafety, Efficacy
Scientific titleThromboprophylaxis in Lower Limb Immobilisation (TiLLI): a multicentre study comprising two linked open label phase III randomised controlled trials evaluating the effectiveness and cost effectiveness of different methods of pharmacological prophylaxis for patients with temporary lower limb immobilisation.
Study acronymTiLLI
Study hypothesisPrimary objective:
To estimate and draw inferences on the difference in a composite outcome of net clinical benefit, including symptomatic VTE events (any deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism), major bleeding or cause-specific mortality (death from either pulmonary embolus or major bleeding) between treatment groups within 90 days of randomisation.

Secondary objectives:
1. To compare all individual components of the primary composite outcome between treatment groups within 42 and 90 days from randomisation
2. To estimate and draw inferences on the difference in complications (including clinically relevant non-major bleeding and surgical site bleeding) between treatment groups within 42 days from randomisation
3. To report adherence to each therapy
4. To estimate and draw inferences on the acceptability of different prophylactic anticoagulants using the Anti Clot Treatment Scale (ACTS)
5. To estimate and draw inferences on differences in quality-of-life measures, including quality of life-adjusted survival, between treatment groups, up to 90 days post randomisation
6. To estimate and draw inferences on the difference in hospital readmission/reattendance and medication use (specific to VTE and bleeding) between treatment groups within the first 90 days
7. To estimate the health and social care resource use and costs and the relative cost effectiveness between arms
8. To estimate longer term outcomes, such as post thrombotic syndrome, chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension and bleeding complications and draw inferences on cost effectiveness, by using a previously developed decision analytic model, informed by directly measured events up to 90 days
Ethics approval(s)

Approved 22/07/2024, North West – Liverpool Central Research Ethics Committee (2 Redman Place, Stratford, London, E20 1JQ, United Kingdom; +44 207 104 8340; liverpoolcentral.rec@hra.nhs.uk), ref: 24/NW/0166

ConditionVenous thromboembolism (VTE) in population with temporary lower limb immobilisation following injury
InterventionTiLLI study consists of 2 linked randomised controlled trials: TiLLI-High and TiLLI-Low. Participants suitability for TiLLI-High and TiLLI-Low will be established during screening, participants will be randomised using Sealed Envelope. Participants in TiLLI-High will be allocated to either parenteral drug treatment (a) or oral drug treatment (b). Participants in TiLLI-Low will be allocated to treatment (a) or (b), or no drug prophylaxis (c). Site teams are permitted to choose which IMP within the treatment group to use. Drug treatments will be provided for the duration of immobilisation or up to 42 days (whichever is earlier).

a) Parenteral drug treatment
• Enoxaparin 40mg once daily via subcutaneous injection
• Tinzaparin 4500 IU once daily via subcutaneous injection
• Dalteparin 5000 IU once daily via subcutaneous injection
• Fondaparinux 2.5mg once daily via subcutaneous injection
b) Oral drug treatment
• Rivaroxaban 10mg OD via oral ingestion
• Apixaban 2.5mg BD via oral ingestion
c) No drug prophylaxis (TiLLI-Low only)
Intervention typeDrug
Pharmaceutical study type(s)Pharmacoeconomic, Prophylaxis, Therapy
PhasePhase III
Drug / device / biological / vaccine name(s)Rivaroxaban, apixaban, enoxaparin sodium, tinzaparin sodium, dalteparin sodium, fondaparinux sodium
Primary outcome measureA composite primary outcome of net clinical benefit, comprising symptomatic VTE events (any deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism), major bleeding or cause-specific mortality (death from either pulmonary embolus or major bleeding) within 90 days used as a binary variable (‘1’ if any event occurred, ‘0’ of none of the events occurred).
Secondary outcome measures1. All individual components of the composite outcome as binary variables (‘1’ if any event occurred, ‘0’ if no event occurred) of an event happening within 42 days of randomisation for a) major bleeding events and within 90 days for b) symptomatic pulmonary embolism or symptomatic deep vein thrombosis and c) cause-specific mortality
2. Patient satisfaction regarding the burdens and benefits of anticoagulation, using the validated Anti-Clot Treatment Scale (ACTS) for patients allocated to drug treatments, measured 42 days after randomisation
3. Health utility (EQ-5D-5L): differences in EQ-5D-5L QoL utility at 7 days, 42 days and 90 days after randomisation compared to a retrospective baseline and QALYs within 90 days of randomisation
4. Medication adherence: monitor participant adherence to allocated anti-coagulant verified through a digital response system, measured at 7 days, 14 days, 21 days, 28 days, 35 days, and 42 days after randomisation
5. Complications including clinically relevant non-major bleeding and surgical site bleeding, objectively defined by ISTH criteria, reported throughout up until 42 days after randomisation
6. Hospital readmission/reattendance using bespoke Case report forms and review of EHR, research staff to collect information on resources required to deliver subsequent care reviews (including scheduled clinic and unscheduled hospital attendance), and investigations within the first 90 days after randomisation
7. Health and social care resource use, using bespoke Case Report Forms and review of EHR, research staff to collect information on health and social care resource use within the first 90 days after randomisation
8. Patient longer-term outcome VTE and bleeding data, using an existing VTE model with risk-adjusted, population-specific effect estimates from this study, informed by directly measured events up to 90 days after randomisation
Overall study start date08/05/2024
Overall study end date30/04/2028

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Patient
Age groupAdult
Lower age limit16 Years
SexBoth
Target number of participants10,044
Participant inclusion criteria1. Age >=16 years
2. Placed in temporary lower limb immobilisation (rigid cast or brace) as a result of an injury that occurred within the last 7 calendar days
Participant exclusion criteria1. Hospital admission is required direct from the emergency department, minor injuries unit, or fracture clinic setting with an expected length of stay >2 calendar days.
2. Absolute contraindication or known hypersensitivity to anticoagulants, including history of end stage renal failure (eGFR <20ml/min/1.73m2), hepatic failure or use of concomitant systemic treatment with azole-antimycotics (such as ketoconazole, itraconazole, voriconazole and posaconazole), HIV protease inhibitors (e.g. ritonavir) or active substances strongly inhibiting elimination pathways such as CYP3A4 or P-gp (such as clarithromycin, erythromycin or dronaderone) or a history of heparin induced thrombocytopenia.
3. Pregnancy, actively seeking conception, or active breastfeeding.
4. Preceding use of anticoagulant treatment for >3 calendar days at prophylactic or therapeutic dose
5. Previous enrolment in the TiLLI study.
6. Non-rigid immobilisation (crepe bandage, tubigrip support, strapping).
7. Time since prescription of rigid immobilisation >3 calendar days.
8. Co-enrolment onto a CTIMP where an anticoagulant is administered.
9. People lacking the capacity to consent.
10. Inability or refusal to use acceptable contraception up until after the last administration of IMP. Only applicable for women of childbearing potential who have been randomised to receive apixaban or rivaroxaban
Recruitment start date01/10/2024
Recruitment end date31/01/2028

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • England
  • Scotland
  • United Kingdom
  • Wales

Study participating centres

The Royal London Hospital
The Royal London Hospital
Alexandra House
London
E1 1BB
United Kingdom
Newham University Hospital NHS Trust
Newham General Hospital
Glen Road
London
E13 8SL
United Kingdom
Epsom Hospital
Epsom General Hospital
Dorking Road
Epsom
KT18 7EG
United Kingdom
St Helier Hospital
Wrythe Lane
Carshalton
SM5 1AA
United Kingdom
Castle Hill Hospital
Castle Road
Cottingham
HU16 5JQ
United Kingdom
Hull Royal Infirmary
Anlaby Road
Hull
HU3 2JZ
United Kingdom
Kings College Hospital
Mapother House
De Crespigny Park
Denmark Hill
London
SE5 8AB
United Kingdom
Leeds General Infirmary
Great George Street
Leeds
LS1 3EX
United Kingdom
Manchester Royal Infirmary
Cobbett House
Oxford Road
Manchester
M13 9WL
United Kingdom
Wythenshawe Hospital
Southmoor Road
Wythenshawe
Manchester
M23 9LT
United Kingdom
Aberdeen Royal Infirmary
Foresterhill Road
Aberdeen
AB25 2ZN
United Kingdom
Royal Alexandra Hospital
Marine Drive
Rhyl
LL18 3AS
United Kingdom
Queen Elizabeth University Hospital
1345 Govan Road
Glasgow
G51 4TF
United Kingdom
Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh
51 Little France Crescent
Old Dalkeith Road
Edinburgh
Lothian
EH16 4SA
United Kingdom
Southmead Hospital
Southmead Road
Westbury-on-trym
Bristol
BS10 5NB
United Kingdom
Salford Care Organisation
Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust
Salford Royal
Stott Lane
Salford
M6 8HD
United Kingdom
John Radcliffe Hospital
Headley Way
Headington
Oxford
OX3 9DU
United Kingdom
Horton General Hospital
Trust Unit Offices
Oxford Road
Banbury
OX16 9AL
United Kingdom
Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre
Windmill Road
Headington
Oxford
OX3 7HE
United Kingdom
Uclh
250 Euston Road
London
NW1 2PQ
United Kingdom

Sponsor information

Queen Mary University of London
University/education

58 Turner Street
London
E1 2AB
United Kingdom

Phone +44 207 882 7260
Email research.governance@qmul.ac.uk
Website http://www.qmul.ac.uk/
ROR logo "ROR" https://ror.org/026zzn846

Funders

Funder type

Government

National Institute for Health and Care Research
Government organisation / National government
Alternative name(s)
National Institute for Health Research, NIHR Research, NIHRresearch, NIHR - National Institute for Health Research, NIHR (The National Institute for Health and Care Research), NIHR
Location
United Kingdom

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date30/04/2029
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareNo
IPD sharing plan summaryNot expected to be made available
Publication and dissemination planPeer reviewed scientific journals
Internal report
Conference presentation
Publication on website
Submission to regulatory authorities
No participant identifiable data will be included in publications. All study data will be linked to study ID alone.
IPD sharing planData will be collected in the OpenClinica4 study database and extracted to the BCC Data Safe Haven (DSH). The BCC DSH is accessible upon request to individuals with a proven and approved requirement for access (i.e., study statistician, study health economist). Raw data will not be made publicly accessible. Study data will be pseudo-anonymised using unique participant ID’s, it is prohibited to attempt to identify participants from the participant ID. Participant consent will be in place for collecting study data.

Editorial Notes

12/09/2024: The recruitment start date was changed from 01/09/2024 to 01/10/2024.
02/08/2024: Internal review.
10/05/2024: Trial's existence confirmed by NHS HRA.