A Phase 3 interventional study of lateral decubitus and supine decubitus in Colon Cancer, Upper Rectum Cancer and Diverticulitis, sponsored by Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, Amiens. Completed at 2 sites in France. Open to male participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2025-09-19.
Sponsored by Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, Amiens · Phase 3, Interventional, and Diagnostic
Digital rectal examination is an act clinically performed daily by physicians and surgeons. It remains the key diagnostic test and directs the therapeutic management of cancer of the lower and middle rectum. It can be done in two main positions: lateral decubitus, and supine.
However, no randomized study in colorectal surgery is not interested in evaluating the best position to perform a full rectal exam.
2,457 studies on the registry are indexed under Colonic Neoplasms; 458 are open to participants now.
This study's enrollment of 320 is above the median of 75 across 1,711 interventional studies indexed under Colonic Neoplasms.
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The digital rectal examination is performed in lateral decubitus i.e. curled up position . The patient in left lateral decubitus if the examiner is right handed and right lateral decubitus if the examiner is left handed.
Procedure: lateral decubitus
The digital rectal examination is performed supine, spread legs, feet on the examination table. The examiner is in the patient's right side if he is right handed and in the patient's left side if he is left-handed.
Procedure: supine decubitus
realization of a full digital rectal examination
Full digital rectal examination is defined by a rectal examination for investigating the superior pole of the prostate, to examine the entire circumference and the rectal sphincter.
Time frame: The consult could be done prior to the surgery or one month after the surgery
assessment of sphincter according to the DRESS score
This score assesses the sphincter tone at rest and during exercise. This score classes the sphincter tone in both situations: tone undetectable (score = 0) to hypertonic sphincter that does not allow the introduction of a finger (score = 5)
Time frame: The consult can be performed prior to the surgery or one month after the surgery
missing information during the rectal examination
This analysis aims to determine what information is missing most often in one group compared to another (height to digital rectal examination, circumference of the digital rectal examination , assessment of sphincter tone)
Time frame: The consult can be performed prior to the surgery or one month after the surgery
Conversion rate decided by the examiner
the conversion rate decided by the examiner corresponds to the switch from one position to another
Time frame: The consult can be performed prior to the surgery or one month after the surgery
Evaluation of the position by the patient
After the digital rectal examination, the examiner shows the patient a picture of the two positions and ask him the question: which position is the most embarrassing?
Time frame: The consult can be performed prior to the surgery or one month after the surgery
The record gives a start of Nov 2012, a primary completion of Mar 2013 and a completion of Mar 2013. It does not say whether these dates are actual or estimated.
How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.
This study is completed, as verified in Sep 2025. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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