NCT01726608

Brief Summary

The purpose of the study is to investigate if a technique called Simplicity III® Radiofrequency Neurotomy is effective in improving the management of sacroiliac joint pain. Currently there are a variety of treatments for managing this pain but there is still some doubt as to which treatments are the most effective. Simplicity III® is one such treatment for sacroiliac joint pain and has been used in the NHS for many years. It uses electrical current to generate heat around the tip of the needle placed close to the nerves that supply the sacro-iliac joint. This heat ablates the specific nerves supplying the joint and improves pain. The traditional method used to treat this type of pain uses multiple injections to target the nerves supplying the joint. This method is however both time consuming and the results are variable depending upon the number of injections. Therefore a new electrode, called the Simplicity III®, was developed to allow the treatment to be undertaken using fewer injections. Although this treatment has received formal approval, undergone conformity assessment and is available in certain specialist NHS centres for clinical use, there is presently limited evidence with regards to its clinical efficacy. We wish to test the effectiveness of this new device in treating sacroiliac joint pain. The best way to prove the clinical effectiveness is to compare Simplicity III® against an identical procedure where the electrode is not switched on and neither the patient nor the doctor is aware whether it was switched on. Once pain has been assessed at 3 months, those patients not receiving active treatment and remaining in pain will be offered the active treatment.

Trial Health

87
On Track

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
30

participants targeted

Target at below P25 for phase_4

Timeline
Completed

Started Sep 2012

Shorter than P25 for phase_4

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
completed

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

Study Start

First participant enrolled

September 1, 2012

Completed
1 month until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

October 1, 2012

Completed
Same day until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

October 1, 2012

Completed
1 month until next milestone

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

November 11, 2012

Completed
4 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

November 15, 2012

Completed
Last Updated

November 5, 2024

Status Verified

November 1, 2024

Enrollment Period

1 month

First QC Date

November 11, 2012

Last Update Submit

November 4, 2024

Conditions

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

  • Pain Intensity

    3 months

Secondary Outcomes (7)

  • Pain Intensity

    6 months

  • Quality of pain

    3 and 6 months

  • Health related Quality of life

    3 and 6 months

  • Anxiety and Depression

    3 and 6 months

  • Functional Disability

    3 and 6 months

  • +2 more secondary outcomes

Study Arms (2)

Radiofrequency neurotomy

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Active Radiofrequency Neurotomy

Procedure: Comparison of active versus sham radiofrequency neurotomy with Simplicity III

Sham

PLACEBO COMPARATOR

Sham radiofrequency neurotomy

Procedure: Comparison of active versus sham radiofrequency neurotomy with Simplicity III

Interventions

Eligibility Criteria

Age18 Years - 80 Years
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • Written, informed consent
  • Age: 18 - 80 years old
  • Low back pain of more than 6 months duration with a minimum pain intensity of greater than 5 out of 10 on an 11-point numerical rating scale in the 7 days preceding study entry.
  • Subjects must achieve greater than 80% reduction in pain following each diagnostic, intra-articular block. Subjects must undergo 2 blocks in total prior to randomisation.
  • Female subjects of potential childbearing age must be using adequate contraception (i.e. using oral or intramuscular contraception or an IUCD) and must have a negative urine test.
  • No vulnerable patient groups shall be recruited into this study

You may not qualify if:

  • Subjects who have previously been treated by any sacroiliac joint radiofrequency neurotomy
  • Subjects who are breastfeeding
  • Contraindications to local anaesthetics and radiofrequency neurotomy as listed in their respective summary of product characteristics
  • Subjects with documented or suspected alcohol or drug abuse, or who are suspected of having an addictive personality
  • Subjects to whom any of the following apply: Major trauma to the lumbar spine in the six months preceding study entry. Infection in the lumbar spine in the six months preceding study entry
  • Subjects' known to have a condition that, in the investigator's judgment precludes entry into the study.
  • Subjects with a significant psychiatric disorder (including depression) or subjects receiving anti-psychotic medication.
  • Subjects who have received an investigational drug or have used an investigational device in the 30 days preceding study entry.
  • Subjects unable to comply with the study assessments or unable to complete the questionnaires.

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

Barts Health NHS Trust

London, EC1A 7BE, United Kingdom

Location

Related Publications (1)

  • Mehta V, Poply K, Husband M, Anwar S, Langford R. The Effects of Radiofrequency Neurotomy Using a Strip-Lesioning Device on Patients with Sacroiliac Joint Pain: Results from a Single-Center, Randomized, Sham-Controlled Trial. Pain Physician. 2018 Nov;21(6):607-618.

Study Officials

  • Vivek Mehta, MD FRCA

    Barts & The London NHS Trust

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
  • Sibtain Anwar, MA MB FRCA

    Barts & The London NHS Trust

    STUDY DIRECTOR

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
phase 4
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Who Masked
PARTICIPANT, CARE PROVIDER, INVESTIGATOR, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
Purpose
TREATMENT
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

November 11, 2012

First Posted

November 15, 2012

Study Start

September 1, 2012

Primary Completion

October 1, 2012

Study Completion

October 1, 2012

Last Updated

November 5, 2024

Record last verified: 2024-11

Locations