Placebo-controlled Trial of Transdiscal Radiofrequency Annuloplasty
A Randomized, Placebo-controlled Trial of Transdiscal Radiofrequency Annuloplasty for Treatment of Discogenic Lower Back Pain
1 other identifier
interventional
64
1 country
2
Brief Summary
Each patient was assigned to one of the two groups: IDB or Sham. On the day of the procedure, an IV was inserted in pre-procedural area and patient transported to the procedure room. The procedure will be completed under fluoroscopy in prone position. Patients were given 1-4 mg of midazolam for relaxation before the procedure and, if needed, 50-100 mcg of fentanyl IV during the procedure. The patients was randomly assigned to treatment or placebo using computer-generated codes maintained in sequentially numbered opaque envelopes. The physician performing procedure was informed of the assignment. In IDB group, guided by the fluoroscopic imaging, two transdiscal probes was positioned in the posterior annulus using a posterolateral, oblique approach. First, two electrically insulated 17G transdiscal introducers was used to gain an access to the disc space. Than, two radiofrequency probes will be positioned through each of the introducers bilaterally to create a bipolar configuration. Placement of the transdiscal probes within the disc annulus will be confirmed using oblique, lateral, and anterior-posterior fluoroscopic images. Sham group had their introducers and electrodes positioned just outside of the disc. This was also be documented using fluoroscopy. Investigator attached the electrodes to inactive heater control device that provide a similar auditory and visual experience for the patient. Patients were therefore remain blinded to actual treatment and physician performing procedure was not involved in patient's follow-up. Patients were awake and communicating with the physician conducting the procedure and if pain in legs were present and increased during the procedure, the heating protocol would be stopped. Following completion of procedure the patient was transferred to recovery and monitored for 45 minutes, then discharged home with instructions. The patients were followed over a period of 12 months.
Trial Health
Trial Health Score
Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach
participants targeted
Target at P75+ for phase_1
Started Sep 2007
Longer than P75 for phase_1
2 active sites
Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.
Trial Relationships
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Study Timeline
Key milestones and dates
Study Start
First participant enrolled
September 1, 2007
CompletedFirst Submitted
Initial submission to the registry
September 9, 2008
CompletedFirst Posted
Study publicly available on registry
September 10, 2008
CompletedPrimary Completion
Last participant's last visit for primary outcome
September 1, 2012
CompletedStudy Completion
Last participant's last visit for all outcomes
September 1, 2012
CompletedResults Posted
Study results publicly available
January 8, 2014
CompletedJanuary 8, 2014
November 1, 2013
5 years
September 9, 2008
September 13, 2013
November 20, 2013
Conditions
Keywords
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcomes (1)
Physical Function
Physical function as measured by the Short Form (36) Health Survey questionnaire physical function component. Scale range for physical function component: 0 (minimum: worse outcome) to 100 (maximum: best outcome).
6 months
Secondary Outcomes (2)
Pain
6 months
Disability
6 months
Other Outcomes (1)
Opioid Usage
6 months
Study Arms (2)
Intradiscal Biacuplasty
ACTIVE COMPARATOROn the day of the procedure, patients were given midazolam for relaxation and, if needed, fentanyl IV during the procedure. For treatment subjects, two TransDiscal probes were positioned under fluoroscopic guidance in the posterior annulus of the intervertebral disc. The probes were attached to the Radiofrequency generator and Radiofrequency energy was delivered. Placement of the probes within the disc annulus was confirmed using oblique, lateral, and anterior-posterior fluoroscopic images. Following completion of procedure the patient was transferred to recovery and monitored for 45 minutes then discharged home with instructions. It was expected that the patient limit their activities during the first week after the procedure.
Sham
PLACEBO COMPARATORSham procedures mimicked active treatment procedures, except that the probes were positioned just outside of the disc and no radiofrequency energy was delivered through the electrodes. Thus, sham patients were provided similar tactile, auditory and visual experiences as treatment patients, without receiving the active RF treatment. Following completion of procedure the patient was transferred to recovery and monitored for 45 minutes then discharged home with instructions. It was expected that the patient limit their activities during the first week after the procedure. The study will be unblinded at 6 months. If the patients in the IDB group show significant improvement compared to placebo they will be offered IDB.
Interventions
Adjustment in dosage form, frequency and or duration.
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if:
- Age 18 + years
- History of chronic low back pain unresponsive to nonoperative care (including physical therapy and anti-inflammatory medication) for longer than 6 months of at least 5 on VAS
- No surgical interventions within the last 3 months
- Back pain more than leg pain which is commonly exacerbated by sitting
- Pain reproduction present on provocative discography in degenerated disc but not in control discs
- Disc height at least 50% of adjacent control disc
- Evidence of single level degenerative disc disease or two level disease without evidence of additional degenerative changes in other disc spaces on MRI
You may not qualify if:
- Evidence of compressive radiculopathy with predominant leg pain
- Nucleus pulposus herniation on the MRI
- Disc bulges \> 5 mm
- Prior lumbar surgery of any kind
- Presence of concordant cervical or thoracic pain
- Symptoms or signs of the lumbar canal stenosis
- Evidence of structural abnormality at the symptomatic level like spondylolisthesis
- Chronic severe conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia
- Patients with pending workers compensation claim, litigation or disability income remuneration
- Psychological issues by exam or history
- Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) \>20
- Pregnancy
- Systemic infection or localized infection at the anticipated entry needle site
- Allergies to contrast media or to any medication to be used in the procedure
- Traumatic spinal fracture
- +10 more criteria
Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.
Sponsors & Collaborators
Study Sites (2)
The Center for Clinical Research
Winston-Salem, North Carolina, 27103, United States
Cleveland Clinic Pain Management
Cleveland, Ohio, 44195, United States
Related Publications (1)
Kapural L, Vrooman B, Sarwar S, Krizanac-Bengez L, Rauck R, Gilmore C, North J, Girgis G, Mekhail N. A randomized, placebo-controlled trial of transdiscal radiofrequency, biacuplasty for treatment of discogenic lower back pain. Pain Med. 2013 Mar;14(3):362-73. doi: 10.1111/pme.12023. Epub 2012 Dec 28.
PMID: 23279658DERIVED
MeSH Terms
Conditions
Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)
Results Point of Contact
- Title
- Dr. Leonard Kapural
- Organization
- The Center for Clinical Research
Study Officials
- PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Leonardo Kapural, MD
Center for Clinical Research
- PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Bruce Vrooman, M.D.
The Cleveland Clinic
Publication Agreements
- PI is Sponsor Employee
- No
- Restriction Type
- LTE60
- Restrictive Agreement
- Yes
Study Design
- Study Type
- interventional
- Phase
- phase 1
- Allocation
- RANDOMIZED
- Masking
- DOUBLE
- Who Masked
- PARTICIPANT, INVESTIGATOR
- Purpose
- TREATMENT
- Intervention Model
- PARALLEL
- Sponsor Type
- INDUSTRY
- Responsible Party
- SPONSOR
Study Record Dates
First Submitted
September 9, 2008
First Posted
September 10, 2008
Study Start
September 1, 2007
Primary Completion
September 1, 2012
Study Completion
September 1, 2012
Last Updated
January 8, 2014
Results First Posted
January 8, 2014
Record last verified: 2013-11