NCT02343484

Brief Summary

Many different minimally invasive techniques have been used for the treatment of chronic discogenic low back pain refractory to conservative treatments, with various results. The aim of this study is to assess the efficacy of the combination of intradiscal pulsed radiofrequency and gelified ethanol versus gelified ethanol alone, on pain and quality of life of patients sufferring from chronic discogenic low back pain.

Trial Health

87
On Track

Trial Health Score

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

Enrollment
40

participants targeted

Target at P25-P50 for not_applicable low-back-pain

Timeline
Completed

Started Mar 2013

Longer than P75 for not_applicable low-back-pain

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

March 1, 2013

Completed
1.9 years until next milestone

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

January 13, 2015

Completed
9 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

January 22, 2015

Completed
2.6 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

September 1, 2017

Completed
Same day until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

September 1, 2017

Completed
Last Updated

October 3, 2017

Status Verified

September 1, 2017

Enrollment Period

4.5 years

First QC Date

January 13, 2015

Last Update Submit

September 30, 2017

Conditions

Keywords

pulsed radiofrequencygelified ethanol

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

  • Change in Numeric Rating Scale (NRS)

    Mean pain intensity assessed by VAS 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after the procedure.

    One, three, six and twelve months after the procedure.

  • Change in Rolland Morris questionnaire

    Functional status of patient assessed by Rolland Morris questionnaire 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after the procedure.

    One, three, six and twelve months after the procedure.

Secondary Outcomes (2)

  • Change in Quality of life (EQ 5D)

    One, three, six and twelve months after the procedure.

  • Change in Satisfaction from therapy ( assessed via NRS 0-10)

    One, three, six and twelve months after the procedure.

Study Arms (2)

Gelified ethanol

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Gelified ethanol (Discogel) is a sterile, implantable medical solution containing ethyl alcohol, cellulose derivative product and an opaque agent (tungsten). The implant is administered within the affected intervertebral disc nucleus pulposus, via a fine needle which is guided into the center of the disc, transdermally. The implant causes migration of fluid (by hydrophilic and osmotic phenomena) from the periphery towards the center, causing disk reinforcement. Filling of the annulus fibrosus tears interrupts the outflow of inflammatory factors towards dorsal root ganglions, dura and posterior longitudinal ligament.

Drug: Gelified ethanol

Gelified ethanol combined to pulsed radiofrequency

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Pulsed radiofrequency treatment is performed intradiscally for the management of chronic discogenic low back pain.Intradiscal pulsed radiofrequency is first applied and then combined to gelified ethanol injection via the same radiofrequency needle.

Drug: Gelified ethanol combined to pulsed radiofrequency

Interventions

Gelified ethanol (Discogel) is a sterile, implantable medical solution which is administered within the affected intervertebral disc nucleus pulposus, via a fine needle which is guided into the center of the disc, transdermally. Pulsed radiofrequency treatment is performed intradiscally for the management of chronic discogenic low back pain. The intradiscal pulsed radiofrequency is first applied and then combined to gelified ethanol injection via the same radiofrequency needle.

Also known as: Discogel, PRF
Gelified ethanol combined to pulsed radiofrequency

Gelified ethanol is a sterile, implantable medical solution which is administered within the affected intervertebral disc nucleus pulposus, via a fine needle which is guided into the center of the disc, transdermally.

Also known as: Discogel
Gelified ethanol

Eligibility Criteria

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

You may qualify if:

  • Discogenic low back pain \> 6 months,
  • pain refractory to conservative treatment,
  • no other aetiology for pain,
  • pain reported during provocative discography according to standard criteria,
  • MRI imaging indicating disk degenarative disease

You may not qualify if:

  • Red flags for low back pain,
  • lumbosacral radiculopathy,
  • extruded or sequestered lumbar disc,
  • severe spinal stenosis,
  • facet joint syndrome,
  • sacroiliac joint pain,
  • neurological disorders,
  • psychiatric disorders,
  • rheumatoid arhtritis, ancylosing spondylitis, other autoimmune arthritis,
  • coagulation disorders,
  • pregnancy

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

2nd Department of Anesthesiology, Attikon Hospital, 1 Rimini str.

Athens, 12462, Greece

Location

Related Publications (8)

  • Bellini M, Romano DG, Leonini S, Grazzini I, Tabano C, Ferrara M, Piu P, Monti L, Cerase A. Percutaneous injection of radiopaque gelified ethanol for the treatment of lumbar and cervical intervertebral disk herniations: experience and clinical outcome in 80 patients. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2015 Mar;36(3):600-5. doi: 10.3174/ajnr.A4166. Epub 2014 Nov 13.

    PMID: 25395657BACKGROUND
  • Guarnieri G, De Dominicis G, Muto M. Intradiscal and intramuscular injection of discogel((R)) - radiopaque gelified ethanol: pathological evaluation. Neuroradiol J. 2010 Apr;23(2):249-52. doi: 10.1177/197140091002300216. Epub 2010 Apr 20.

    PMID: 24148546BACKGROUND
  • Theron J, Guimaraens L, Casasco A, Sola T, Cuellar H, Courtheoux P. Percutaneous treatment of lumbar intervertebral disk hernias with radiopaque gelified ethanol: a preliminary study. J Spinal Disord Tech. 2007 Oct;20(7):526-32. doi: 10.1097/BSD.0b013e318033e860.

    PMID: 17912130BACKGROUND
  • Manchikanti L, Abdi S, Atluri S, Benyamin RM, Boswell MV, Buenaventura RM, Bryce DA, Burks PA, Caraway DL, Calodney AK, Cash KA, Christo PJ, Cohen SP, Colson J, Conn A, Cordner H, Coubarous S, Datta S, Deer TR, Diwan S, Falco FJ, Fellows B, Geffert S, Grider JS, Gupta S, Hameed H, Hameed M, Hansen H, Helm S 2nd, Janata JW, Justiz R, Kaye AD, Lee M, Manchikanti KN, McManus CD, Onyewu O, Parr AT, Patel VB, Racz GB, Sehgal N, Sharma ML, Simopoulos TT, Singh V, Smith HS, Snook LT, Swicegood JR, Vallejo R, Ward SP, Wargo BW, Zhu J, Hirsch JA. An update of comprehensive evidence-based guidelines for interventional techniques in chronic spinal pain. Part II: guidance and recommendations. Pain Physician. 2013 Apr;16(2 Suppl):S49-283.

    PMID: 23615883BACKGROUND
  • Jung YJ, Lee DG, Cho YW, Ahn SH. Effect of intradiscal monopolar pulsed radiofrequency on chronic discogenic back pain diagnosed by pressure-controlled provocative discography: a one year prospective study. Ann Rehabil Med. 2012 Oct;36(5):648-56. doi: 10.5535/arm.2012.36.5.648. Epub 2012 Oct 31.

    PMID: 23185729BACKGROUND
  • Rohof O. Intradiscal pulsed radiofrequency application following provocative discography for the management of degenerative disc disease and concordant pain: a pilot study. Pain Pract. 2012 Jun;12(5):342-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1533-2500.2011.00512.x. Epub 2011 Oct 19.

    PMID: 22008239BACKGROUND
  • Fukui S, Rohof O. Results of pulsed radiofrequency technique with two laterally placed electrodes in the annulus in patients with chronic lumbar discogenic pain. J Anesth. 2012 Aug;26(4):606-9. doi: 10.1007/s00540-012-1385-7. Epub 2012 Apr 5.

    PMID: 22476553BACKGROUND
  • Fukui S, Nitta K, Iwashita N, Tomie H, Nosaka S, Rohof O. Results of intradiscal pulsed radiofrequency for lumbar discogenic pain: comparison with intradiscal electrothermal therapy. Korean J Pain. 2012 Jul;25(3):155-60. doi: 10.3344/kjp.2012.25.3.155. Epub 2012 Jun 28.

    PMID: 22787545BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Low Back Pain

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Back PainPainNeurologic ManifestationsSigns and SymptomsPathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
SINGLE
Who Masked
OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
Purpose
TREATMENT
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
PI Title
Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology, 2nd Department of Anesthesiology, School of Medicine, University of Athens, Greece

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

January 13, 2015

First Posted

January 22, 2015

Study Start

March 1, 2013

Primary Completion

September 1, 2017

Study Completion

September 1, 2017

Last Updated

October 3, 2017

Record last verified: 2017-09

Locations