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Lower Back PainPhase 1NCT00750191

Placebo-controlled Trial of Transdiscal Radiofrequency Annuloplasty

A Phase 1 study testing The Transdiscal Radiofrequency Annuloplasty in people with Lower Back Pain, run by Baylis Medical Company at 2 sites in United States.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial 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. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and older
Conditions the study is for
Lower Back Pain
What is being tested?
The Transdiscal Radiofrequency Annuloplasty
Could I receive a placebo?
Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
How many people
64 participants
Where
2 sitesUnited States
Study dates
Sep 2007to Sep 2012
Phase
Phase 1
Are there results?
Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 years and older
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • The inclusion criteria will be as follows:
  • 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

Who cannot join

  • The exclusion criteria are :
  • 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
Show all 26Show fewer
  • 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
  • History of coagulopathy, unexplained bleeding
  • Progressive neurological deficits
  • History of opioid abuse
  • Presence of free disc fragments on MRI
  • More than 2 discs degenerated on MRI
  • Immunosuppression (eg. AIDS, cancer, diabetes, other surgery within last 3 months)
  • Smoking
  • BMI (body mass index) >30 kg/m2
  • Subject unwilling to consent to the study
  • Participation in another investigation within 30 days of signing informed consent

Trial locations and contacts

2 sites in 1 country.

United States2 sites
  • Cleveland Clinic Pain Management

    Cleveland, Ohio, 44195

  • The Center for Clinical Research

    Winston-Salem, North Carolina, 27103

Other trials in United States

About this study

Official title: A Randomized, Placebo-controlled Trial of Transdiscal Radiofrequency Annuloplasty for Treatment of Discogenic Lower Back Pain

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.

Read the detailed description

Back Pain

Conditions
Lower Back Pain
Being tested
The Transdiscal Radiofrequency Annuloplasty
Keywords
Lower Back Pain
Medical subject headings
Low Back Pain

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • The Transdiscal Radiofrequency AnnuloplastyDevice

    Also called Intradiscal Biacuplasty Active Comparator

    Adjustment in dosage form, frequency and or duration.

  • The Transdiscal Radiofrequency AnnuloplastyDevice

    Also called Sham: Placebo Comparator

    interventions include adjustment to dosage form,frequency,duration or switching to treatment arm A

Study groups in NCT00750191
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Intradiscal BiacuplastyActive 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.
Receives: Device: The Transdiscal Radiofrequency Annuloplasty
ShamPlacebo 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.
Receives: Device: The Transdiscal Radiofrequency Annuloplasty

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  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).

    Measured: 6 months

Secondary outcomes (2)
  1. Pain

    Pain level as measured by the Numerical Rating Scale. Scale range: 0 (minimum: best outcome) to 10 (maximum: worse outcome)

    Measured: 6 months

  2. Disability

    Disability as measured by the Oswestry Disability Index. Scale range: 0 (minimum: best outcome) to 100 (maximum: worst outcome)

    Measured: 6 months

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted10 Sep 2008 (estimated)
  2. Study startSep 2007
  3. Primary completionSep 2012
  4. Study completionSep 2012

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase 1
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
Double blind
Who is masked
Participant, Investigator
Enrolment
64 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT00750191
Sponsor's protocol ID
IRB 07-594
Other IDs
IRB 07-594
Status last verified
Nov 2013
First submitted
9 Sep 2008
Last updated
8 Jan 2014
Data monitoring committee
Yes

Publications

  • 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.

    PubMed 23279658

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 1 study testing The Transdiscal Radiofrequency Annuloplasty in people with Lower Back Pain, run by Baylis Medical Company at 2 sites in United States.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 8 inclusion and 26 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 8 Jan 2014. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 2 sites in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

What does this phase mean?

Phase 1 studies test a treatment in a small group of people for the first time or in a new way, mainly to check safety and find the right dose.

Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.

Are results available for this study?

Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 8 Jan 2014). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Physical Function (time frame: 6 months). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT00750191, which also lists 1 linked publication.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 8 Jan 2014.

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