LedRad-study shows that radiotherapy is effective in patients with symptomatic Ledderhose disease.
The IORBC welcomes the recently published results of the LedRad-study by Anneke de Haan et al. which investigated the effectiveness of radiotherapy in patients with Ledderhose disease (plantar fibromatosis).
The study, a prospective multi-centre randomised double-blind phase III trial, was undertaken between January 2018 to October 2019 with 84 patients enrolled.
Patients were randomly assigned to receive either “sham radiotherapy” (i.e. where no radiotherapy was given) or radiotherapy using a standard protocol.
Those who received standard radiotherapy treatment demonstrated a significant reduction in pain, improvement in quality of life scores, and enhanced barefoot walking abilities, compared with those who did not received radiotherapy.
Toxicity was mild and importantly there were no cases of radiation-induced malignancy or fibrosis seen.
The IORBC believes that the LedRad study’s positive findings will be practice-changing and open up new possibilities for the treatment of symptomatic Ledderhose disease. By providing effective pain reduction, improved quality of life, and minimal toxicity, radiotherapy proves to be a valuable therapeutic option.
Whilst further research and long-term follow-up are important to fully understand the treatment’s long-term effects the LedRad study holds tremendous promise in transforming the lives of individuals with Ledderhose disease.