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Cervical RadiculopathyNCT05260294

A Comparison Study Between Contrast Spread and Loss of Resistance Techniques

A study testing Epidural space identification with cervical epidural steroid injection employing CST and LORT. in people with Cervical Radiculopathy and Neck Pain, run by Yakov Perper, MD at 1 site 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

Early epidural space identification is critical to the efficacy and safety of cervical epidural steroid injections (CESI) [1]. Currently, the accepted method for epidural space recognition is the loss of resistance technique (LORT). I perform CESIs with fluoroscopy only [2]. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and older
What is being tested?
Epidural space identification with cervical epidural steroid injection employing CST and LORT.
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
45 participants
Where
1 siteUnited States
Study dates
19 Aug 2019to 8 Oct 2019
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

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

  • Clinical and recent MRI findings confirming the diagnosis of cervical radiculitis
  • Inadequate pain relief with conservative care for more than 3 months
  • Signed informed consent
  • The procedure was covered by medical insurance

Who cannot join

  • Bleeding disorder or anticoagulants therapy
  • Serious comorbidities such as congestive heart failure
  • Pregnancy
  • Uncontrolled diabetes mellitus
  • Refusal to participate in the study

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

United States1 site
  • Astoria Pain Management

    Astoria, New York, 11102

Other trials in United States

About this study

Official title: Identification of Epidural Space: A Comparison Study Between Contrast Spread and Loss of Resistance Techniques

Early epidural space identification is critical to the efficacy and safety of cervical epidural steroid injections (CESI) [1]. Currently, the accepted method for epidural space recognition is the loss of resistance technique (LORT). I perform CESIs with fluoroscopy only [2]. I hypothesized that the contrast spread technique (CST) might recognize epidural space concurrently with or sooner than LORT. I also suggested that smaller needles might be employed with CST but not with LORT. To test my hypotheses, I conducted a comparison study.

Read the detailed description

The study participants were patients of Astoria Pain Management, New York, USA (age 28-72 years) with a clinical diagnosis of cervical radiculitis. The Canadian SHIELD Ethics Review Board approved this study (July 18, 2019. REB tracking number: 19-06-002), conducted from August 19, 2019, to October 8, 2019. There was no funding for this study. Patients were eligible for the study if they met the criteria for cervical ESI, which included clinical and recent MRI findings confirming the diagnosis of cervical radiculitis and inadequate pain relief with conservative care for more than 3 months. Other criteria were if the procedure was covered by medical insurance, and if they signed informed consent. Patients were excluded from the study if they were taking anticoagulants or had serious comorbidities such as congestive heart failure.

The patients were divided into two groups of 20 each and underwent CESI with either an 18G or a 25G Tuohy needle. The skin was anesthetized with 1% lidocaine in the 18G group but not in the 25G group. All cervical epidurals were performed utilizing the fluoroscopy only method when the needle was navigated from the skin toward the epidural space under contralateral oblique fluoroscopy [3], and the contrast spread technique [4,5] was employed for epidural space identification. After radiological confirmation of the epidural spread, LOR was tested using an Epidrum® device (Exmoor Innovations Ltd., Somerset, UK). I utilized the Epidrum device as I consider it a more objective and reproducible method for epidural space identification independent of the provider's skill with the LORT, and because its success rate is comparable to the results attained by trained anesthesiologists employing the LOR syringe [6, 7, 8]. Subsequently, accompanied by the radiology assistant, I observed the Epidrum for 30 seconds or more; if the Epidrum deflated, the result was positive. However, if the device remained inflated, the result was reported as negative. The collected data was then analyzed.

Being tested
Epidural space identification with cervical epidural steroid injection employing CST and LORT.
Keywords
Fluoroscopy only, cervical epidural steroid injection, contrast spread technique, loss of resistance technique, epidural space identification
Medical subject headings
Radiculopathy, Neck Pain

What participants receive

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

  • Epidural space identification with cervical epidural steroid injection employing CST and LORT.Procedure or surgery

    Cervical epidural procedure and epidural space recognition were performed utilizing the fluoroscopy only method. With this technique, needle navigation from the skin toward the epidural space is performed under contralateral oblique fluoroscopy. With the needle at the ventral interlaminar line, the contrast spread technique was employed for epidural space identification. After radiological confirmation of the epidural spread, LOR was tested using an Epidrum® device (Exmoor Innovations Ltd., Somerset, UK). Subsequently, accompanied by the radiology assistant, I observed the Epidrum for 30 seconds or more; if the Epidrum deflated, thus confirming LOR, the result was positive. However, if the device remained inflated, the result was reported as negative. The collected data was then analyzed.

Study groups in NCT05260294
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
18 Gauge Tuohy groupActive comparatorIn the 18G group, all CESIs were performed utilizing the fluoroscopy only method when the needle was navigated from the skin toward the epidural space under contralateral oblique fluoroscopy, and the contrast spread technique was employed for epidural space identification. After radiological confirmation of the epidural spread, LOR was tested using an Epidrum® device (Exmoor Innovations Ltd., Somerset, UK).
Receives: Procedure: Epidural space identification with cervical epidural steroid injection employing CST and LORT.
25 Gauge Tuohy groupActive comparatorIn the 25G group, all CESIs were performed utilizing the fluoroscopy only method when the needle was navigated from the skin toward the epidural space under contralateral oblique fluoroscopy, and the contrast spread technique was employed for epidural space identification. After radiological confirmation of the epidural spread, LOR was tested using an Epidrum® device (Exmoor Innovations Ltd., Somerset, UK).
Receives: Procedure: Epidural space identification with cervical epidural steroid injection employing CST and LORT.

What is being measured

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

  1. Confirmation of the LOR with epidurally located 18G Tuohy needle by the Epidrum device.

    Cervical epidural procedure and epidural space recognition were performed utilizing the fluoroscopy only method. With this technique, needle navigation from the skin toward the epidural space is performed under contralateral oblique fluoroscopy. With the needle at the ventral interlaminar line, the contrast spread technique was employed for epidural space identification. After radiological confirmation of the epidural spread, LOR was tested using an Epidrum® device (Exmoor Innovations Ltd., Somerset, UK). Subsequently, accompanied by the radiology assistant, I observed the Epidrum for 30 seconds or more; if the Epidrum deflated, thus confirming LOR, the result was positive. However, if the device remained inflated, the result was reported as negative.

    Measured: 30 seconds

  2. Confirmation of the LOR with epidurally located 25G Tuohy needle by the Epidrum device.

    Cervical epidural procedure and epidural space recognition were performed utilizing the fluoroscopy only method. With this technique, needle navigation from the skin toward the epidural space is performed under contralateral oblique fluoroscopy. With the needle at the ventral interlaminar line, the contrast spread technique was employed for epidural space identification. After radiological confirmation of the epidural spread, LOR was tested using an Epidrum® device (Exmoor Innovations Ltd., Somerset, UK). Subsequently, accompanied by the radiology assistant, I observed the Epidrum for 30 seconds or more; if the Epidrum deflated, thus confirming LOR, the result was positive. However, if the device remained inflated, the result was reported as negative.

    Measured: 30 seconds

Timeline

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

  1. First posted2 Mar 2022
  2. Study start19 Aug 2019
  3. Primary completion8 Oct 2019
  4. Study completion8 Oct 2019

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 N/A
Primary purpose
Diagnosis
Allocation
Non-randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Model description
The patients were divided into two groups of 20 each and underwent CESI with either an 18G or a 25G Tuohy needle.
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
45 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT05260294
Sponsor's protocol ID
19-06-002
Status last verified
Feb 2022
First submitted
2 Feb 2022
Last updated
2 Mar 2022
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No

Publications

  • Hoffmann VL, Vercauteren MP, Vreugde JP, Hans GH, Coppejans HC, Adriaensen HA. Posterior epidural space depth: safety of the loss of resistance and hanging drop techniques. Br J Anaesth. 1999 Nov;83(5):807-9. doi: 10.1093/bja/83.5.807.

    PubMed 10690148
  • Doan L, Patel H, Aronova Y, Gharibo C. Variations in Interlaminar Epidural Steroid Injection Practice Patterns by Interventional Pain Management Physicians in the United States. Pain Physician. 2018 Sep;21(5):E493-E499.

    PubMed 30282397
  • Furman MB, Jasper NR, Lin HW. Fluoroscopic contralateral oblique view in interlaminar interventions: a technical note. Pain Med. 2012 Nov;13(11):1389-96. doi: 10.1111/j.1526-4637.2012.01484.x. Epub 2012 Sep 19.

    PubMed 22994264
  • Perper Y. Contrast spread technique. Pain Med. 2015 Apr;16(4):827-8. doi: 10.1111/pme.12650. Epub 2015 Feb 4. No abstract available.

    PubMed 25651004
  • Perper Y. Contrast Spread Technique: Evolution. Pain Med. 2016 Jul;17(7):1385-1386. doi: 10.1093/pm/pnv100. Epub 2016 Feb 5. No abstract available.

    PubMed 26849949
  • Kartal S, Kosem B, Kilinc H, Kosker H, Karabayirli S, Cimen NK, Demircioglu RI. Comparison of Epidrum, Epi-Jet, and Loss of Resistance syringe techniques for identifying the epidural space in obstetric patients. Niger J Clin Pract. 2017 Aug;20(8):992-997. doi: 10.4103/1119-3077.214366.

    PubMed 28891544
  • Kim SW, Kim YM, Kim SH, Chung MH, Choi YR, Choi EM. Comparison of loss of resistance technique between Epidrum(R) and conventional method for identifying the epidural space. Korean J Anesthesiol. 2012 Apr;62(4):322-6. doi: 10.4097/kjae.2012.62.4.322. Epub 2012 Apr 23.

    PubMed 22558497
  • Sawada A, Kii N, Yoshikawa Y, Yamakage M. Epidrum((R)): a new device to identify the epidural space with an epidural Tuohy needle. J Anesth. 2012 Apr;26(2):292-5. doi: 10.1007/s00540-011-1278-1. Epub 2011 Nov 13.

    PubMed 22081113
  • Perper Y. Identification of cervical epidural space: A comparison study between contrast spread and loss of resistance techniques. Front Pain Res (Lausanne). 2022 Dec 20;3:1000209. doi: 10.3389/fpain.2022.1000209. eCollection 2022.

    PubMed 36618582

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Epidural space identification with cervical epidural steroid injection employing CST and LORT. in people with Cervical Radiculopathy and Neck Pain, run by Yakov Perper, MD at 1 site 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 4 inclusion and 5 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 2 Mar 2022. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site 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. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

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?

Confirmation of the LOR with epidurally located 18G Tuohy needle by the Epidrum device. (time frame: 30 seconds). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. 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 NCT05260294, which also lists 9 linked publications.

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 2 Mar 2022.

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