Spinal Cord InjuriesNCT05645003
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Therapy in Neuropathic Painful Spinal Cord Injury Patients
A study testing High-frequency real-time rTMS protocol in people with Spinal Cord Injuries and Neuropathic Pain, run by Afyonkarahisar Health Sciences University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
Trial summary
The aim of our study is to investigate the effect of high-frequency Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation(rTMS) therapy applied to the dorsolateral PFC (DLPFC) area on neuropathic pain in patients with spinal cord injury. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 20 to 70 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Spinal Cord Injuries, Neuropathic Pain, Neurological Diseases or Conditions
- What is being tested?
- High-frequency real-time rTMS protocol
- Type of treatment
- Medical device
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 60 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
- Study dates
- 15 Nov 2022to 31 Mar 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
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 20 to 70 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Between the ages of 20-70, who applied to the AFSU Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation inpatient service with the diagnosis of spinal cord injury and
- Having spinal cord injury with neurophatic pain at least six months ago,
- Able to follow two-stage verbal commands,
- Agreeing to participate in the study voluntarily and regularly,
- Patients who are medically stable (no previous myocardial infarction, no musculoskeletal problems) will be included in our study.
Who cannot join
- Having an important comorbid disease such as severe heart disease (aortic stenosis, angina, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, arrhythmia, pacemaker) and uncontrolled hypertension,
- Epilepsy,
- History of antiepileptic drug use,
- Intracranial metal object,
- Presence of in-ear implant,
- Cognitive dysfunction,
Show all 14Show fewer
- Lower extremity peripheral nerve injury,
- With malignancy and active infection,
- Infection on the skin in the application area,
- Having an open wound,
- Having inflammatory disease,
- Orthopedic injuries that can limit maximum effort contractions,
- Having a brain lesion or a history of drug use that will affect the seizure threshold,
- Patients with increased intracranial pressure or uncontrolled migraine will not be included.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Turkey (Türkiye)1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Afyonkarahisar
Afyonkarahisar, 0300
Nuran EYVAZ, MD, 05334262442, n_eyvaz@hotmail.com
About this study
Official title: Effect of Repetative Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Therapy on Neuropathic Pain in Patients With Spinal Cord Injury
The aim of our study is to investigate the effect of high-frequency Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation(rTMS) therapy applied to the dorsolateral PFC (DLPFC) area on neuropathic pain in patients with spinal cord injury. In this area, there are very few studies on the effectiveness of rTMS treatment added to medical treatment in neuropathic pain. In addition, the number of studies comparing the effect of rTMS therapy applied to the DLFPC area is very few.
Read the detailed description
Spinal cord injury (SCI) is associated with widespread disability due to its detrimental effects on various bodily functions. Neuropathic pain is one of the most challenging complications after SCI and can have a significant impact on daily life.
There are supportive criteria for the diagnosis of neuropathic pain associated with SCI: onset of pain within one year after SCI, absence of primary association between pain with movement, inflammation or other local tissue damage, burning, tingling, pins and needles, throbbing pain, squeezing pain, Detection of 1 or more of the pain descriptors such as freezing pain, allodynia or hyperalgesia within the pain distribution support neuropathic pain due to spinal cord injury.
Pharmacological and interventional treatments are often tried in the treatment of neuropathic pain, but their success is often limited. Another option that has been used as an innovative approach in the treatment of neuropathic pain in recent years is pain regulation with rTMS. As one of the non-invasive brain stimulation techniques, rTMS is suggested to be useful in the treatment of central neuropathic pain. While most studies to date have mainly targeted the primary motor cortex (M1), which is contralateral to the pain side, fewer studies have reported analgesic effects after stimulation of other cortical areas such as the dorsolateral PFC (DLPFC). The analgesic mechanisms of rTMS to the DLPFC are thought to be through the same mechanism as stimulation of the M1 motor cortex.
The aim of our study; To investigate the effect of high frequency rTMS applications on patients with SCI on their neuropathic pain.
- Being tested
- High-frequency real-time rTMS protocol, Sham rTMS Protocol
- Keywords
- Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, Neurological Rehabilitation
- Medical subject headings
- Spinal Cord Injuries, Neuralgia
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
High-frequency real-time rTMS protocolDevice
It was planned to apply a total of 1200 beats to the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex daily for 15 sessions. Along with the daily rTMS session, patients will continue to use the drugs in the medical treatment (pregabalin, gabapentin, carbamazepine) at the same effective dose. No dose changes will be made during rTMS sessions.
Sham rTMS ProtocolDevice
It was planned to apply a to the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex daily for 15 sessions. Along with the daily rTMS session, patients will continue to use the drugs in the medical treatment (pregabalin, gabapentin, carbamazepine) at the same effective dose. No dose changes will be made during rTMS sessions.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| High-frequency real-time rTMS protocol | Experimental | It was planned to apply a total of 1200 beats to the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex daily at a frequency of 10 HZ at 110% intensity of the motor threshold for 15 sessions. Receives: Device: High-frequency real-time rTMS protocol |
| Sham rTMS Protocol | Sham comparator | It was planned to apply daily sham rTMS to the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex for 15 sessions. Receives: Device: Sham rTMS Protocol |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change from baseline Visual Analog Scale (VAS) at 15 day and 6 week.
It is evaluated between 0-10. 10 means severe pain, 0 means no pain. Night and day VAS assessment will be questioned.
Measured: up to 6 week
Secondary outcomes (5)
Change from baseline The Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Symptoms & Signs Pain Scale(LANSS) at 15 day and 6 week.
LANSS consists of two parts; The first part, filled out by the patient himself, and the second part, which includes the doctor's brief physical examination.If score < 12, neuropathic mechanisms are unlikely to be contributing to the patient's pain.If score≥ 12, neuropathic mechanisms are likely to be contributing to the patient's pain.
Measured: up to 6 week
Change from baseline Short form McGill Pain questionnaire(SF-MPQ) at 15 day and 6 week.
It is evaluated between 0-45. It is an expanded version of the abbreviated McGill Questionnaire by adding 7 new items specific to neuropathic pain.The main component of the SF-MPQ consists of 15 descriptors (11 sensory; 4 affective) which are rated on an intensity scale as 0 = none, 1 = mild, 2 = moderate or 3 = severe.
Measured: up to 6 week
Change from baseline Short form 36 (SF-36) at 15 day and 6 week.
This is a self-administered scale, which is widely used to measure the quality of life. It was developed to measure the quality of life in patients who have physical illnesses; however, it can also be successfully used in healthy individuals and patients who have psychiatric diseases. SF-36 includes 36 items and surveys eight domains of health, such as physical functionality, physical role limitations, pain, general health, vitality, social functionality, emotional role limitations, and mental health. Total score was between 0 ( disability) and 100 (no disability). Every subgroup of the questionnaire has a score scale between 0 and 100. Every increase in the subgroup of SF-36 questionnaire, which is a positive scoring system, indicates increase in quality of life related to health.
Measured: up to 6 week
Change from baseline Beck Depression Scale at 15 day and 6 week.
It is a self-assessment scale that can be used in healthy patient groups to determine the risk of depression in the individual and to measure the level and severity of depressive symptoms. It includes a total of 21 self-assessment questions. It provides a four-point Likert-type measurement. Each item gets progressively increasing points between 0 and 3, and the total score is obtained by summing them up. The total score ranges from 0 to 63. 0-9: indicates minimal depression, 10-18: indicates mild depression, 19-29: indicates moderate depression, 30-63: indicates severe depression. Higher total scores indicate more severe depressive symptoms.
Measured: up to 6 week
Beck Anxiety Scale at 15 day and 6 week.
It is a self-assessment scale that can be used in healthy patient groups to measure the frequency of anxiety experienced by the individual. It includes a total of 21 self-assessment questions. It provides a four-point Likert-type measurement. Each item gets progressively increasing points between 0 and 3, and the total score is obtained by summing them up. The total score ranges from 0 to 63. 8-15 is considered mild anxiety, 16-25 moderate anxiety, 26-63 severe anxiety.
Measured: up to 6 week
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted9 Dec 2022
- Study start15 Nov 2022
- Primary completion31 Mar 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion31 Mar 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (3)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Spinal Cord InjuriesStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
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
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Quadruple blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Care provider, Investigator, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 60 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Afyonkarahisar Health Sciences University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Nuran Eyvaz, Afyonkarahisar Health Sciences University
- Investigators
- Nuran EYVAZ, MD, Principal investigator, Afyonkarahisar Health Sciences University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05645003
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- TMSSKY2022
- Status last verified
- Mar 2026
- First submitted
- 1 Dec 2022
- Last updated
- 9 Mar 2026
- Results posted
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Publications
Nardone R, Holler Y, Langthaler PB, Lochner P, Golaszewski S, Schwenker K, Brigo F, Trinka E. rTMS of the prefrontal cortex has analgesic effects on neuropathic pain in subjects with spinal cord injury. Spinal Cord. 2017 Jan;55(1):20-25. doi: 10.1038/sc.2016.87. Epub 2016 May 31.
PubMed 27241450Yang QH, Zhang YH, Du SH, Wang YC, Fang Y, Wang XQ. Non-invasive Brain Stimulation for Central Neuropathic Pain. Front Mol Neurosci. 2022 May 19;15:879909. doi: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.879909. eCollection 2022.
PubMed 35663263Li L, Huang H, Yu Y, Jia Y, Liu Z, Shi X, Wang F, Zhang T. Non-invasive Brain Stimulation for Neuropathic Pain After Spinal Cord Injury: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis. Front Neurosci. 2022 Feb 11;15:800560. doi: 10.3389/fnins.2021.800560. eCollection 2021.
PubMed 35221889
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 9 Mar 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Effect of Repetative Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Therapy on Neuropathic Pain in Patients With Spinal Cord Injury
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05645003
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- TMSSKY2022
- Keywords
- Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, Neurological Rehabilitation
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 60 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Afyonkarahisar Health Sciences UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 15 Nov 2022 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 31 Mar 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 31 Mar 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 9 Dec 2022 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The aim of our study is to investigate the effect of high-frequency Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation(rTMS) therapy applied to the dorsolateral PFC (DLPFC) area on neuropathic pain in patients with spinal cord injury. In this area, there are very few studies on the effectiveness of rTMS treatment added to medical treatment in neuropathic pain. In addition, the number of studies comparing the effect of rTMS therapy applied to the DLFPC area is very few.
Detailed description
Spinal cord injury (SCI) is associated with widespread disability due to its detrimental effects on various bodily functions. Neuropathic pain is one of the most challenging complications after SCI and can have a significant impact on daily life.
There are supportive criteria for the diagnosis of neuropathic pain associated with SCI: onset of pain within one year after SCI, absence of primary association between pain with movement, inflammation or other local tissue damage, burning, tingling, pins and needles, throbbing pain, squeezing pain, Detection of 1 or more of the pain descriptors such as freezing pain, allodynia or hyperalgesia within the pain distribution support neuropathic pain due to spinal cord injury.
Pharmacological and interventional treatments are often tried in the treatment of neuropathic pain, but their success is often limited. Another option that has been used as an innovative approach in the treatment of neuropathic pain in recent years is pain regulation with rTMS. As one of the non-invasive brain stimulation techniques, rTMS is suggested to be useful in the treatment of central neuropathic pain. While most studies to date have mainly targeted the primary motor cortex (M1), which is contralateral to the pain side, fewer studies have reported analgesic effects after stimulation of other cortical areas such as the dorsolateral PFC (DLPFC). The analgesic mechanisms of rTMS to the DLPFC are thought to be through the same mechanism as stimulation of the M1 motor cortex.
The aim of our study; To investigate the effect of high frequency rTMS applications on patients with SCI on their neuropathic pain.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Quadruple blind (participant, care provider, investigator, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| High-frequency real-time rTMS protocol | Experimental | Device: High-frequency real-time rTMS protocolIt was planned to apply a total of 1200 beats to the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex daily at a frequency of 10 HZ at 110% intensity of the motor threshold for 15 sessions. |
| Sham rTMS Protocol | Sham comparator | Device: Sham rTMS ProtocolIt was planned to apply daily sham rTMS to the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex for 15 sessions. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 20 to 70 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Between the ages of 20-70, who applied to the AFSU Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation inpatient service with the diagnosis of spinal cord injury and
- Having spinal cord injury with neurophatic pain at least six months ago,
- Able to follow two-stage verbal commands,
- Agreeing to participate in the study voluntarily and regularly,
- Patients who are medically stable (no previous myocardial infarction, no musculoskeletal problems) will be included in our study.
Key exclusion criteria (14 listed)
- Having an important comorbid disease such as severe heart disease (aortic stenosis, angina, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, arrhythmia, pacemaker) and uncontrolled hypertension,
- Epilepsy,
- History of antiepileptic drug use,
- Intracranial metal object,
- Presence of in-ear implant,
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| High-frequency real-time rTMS protocolIt was planned to apply a total of 1200 beats to the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex daily for 15 sessions. Along with the daily rTMS session, patients will continue to use the drugs in the medical treatment (pregabalin, gabapentin, carbamazepine) at the same effective dose. No dose changes will be made during rTMS sessions. | Device | High-frequency real-time rTMS protocol |
| Sham rTMS ProtocolIt was planned to apply a to the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex daily for 15 sessions. Along with the daily rTMS session, patients will continue to use the drugs in the medical treatment (pregabalin, gabapentin, carbamazepine) at the same effective dose. No dose changes will be made during rTMS sessions. | Device | Sham rTMS Protocol |
Primary outcome
Change from baseline Visual Analog Scale (VAS) at 15 day and 6 week.
Time frame: up to 6 week
It is evaluated between 0-10. 10 means severe pain, 0 means no pain. Night and day VAS assessment will be questioned.
5 secondary outcomes
Change from baseline The Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Symptoms & Signs Pain Scale(LANSS) at 15 day and 6 week.
Time frame: up to 6 week
Change from baseline Short form McGill Pain questionnaire(SF-MPQ) at 15 day and 6 week.
Time frame: up to 6 week
Change from baseline Short form 36 (SF-36) at 15 day and 6 week.
Time frame: up to 6 week
Change from baseline Beck Depression Scale at 15 day and 6 week.
Time frame: up to 6 week
Beck Anxiety Scale at 15 day and 6 week.
Time frame: up to 6 week
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 9 Mar 2026.
- Background: PubMed 27241450Nardone R, Holler Y, Langthaler PB, Lochner P, Golaszewski S, Schwenker K, Brigo F, Trinka E. rTMS of the prefrontal cortex has analgesic effects on neuropathic pain in subjects with spinal cord injury. Spinal Cord. 2017 Jan;55(1):20-25. doi: 10.1038/sc.2016.87. Epub 2016 May 31.
- Background: PubMed 35663263Yang QH, Zhang YH, Du SH, Wang YC, Fang Y, Wang XQ. Non-invasive Brain Stimulation for Central Neuropathic Pain. Front Mol Neurosci. 2022 May 19;15:879909. doi: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.879909. eCollection 2022.
- Background: PubMed 35221889Li L, Huang H, Yu Y, Jia Y, Liu Z, Shi X, Wang F, Zhang T. Non-invasive Brain Stimulation for Neuropathic Pain After Spinal Cord Injury: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis. Front Neurosci. 2022 Feb 11;15:800560. doi: 10.3389/fnins.2021.800560. eCollection 2021.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Nuran EYVAZ, MD principal investigator
Afyonkarahisar Health Sciences University
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing High-frequency real-time rTMS protocol in people with Spinal Cord Injuries and Neuropathic Pain, run by Afyonkarahisar Health Sciences University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
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 5 inclusion and 14 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: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 9 Mar 2026. 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 Turkey (Türkiye). 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.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Nuran EYVAZ, MD (+905334262442, n_eyvaz@hotmail.com), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Change from baseline Visual Analog Scale (VAS) at 15 day and 6 week. (time frame: up to 6 week). 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 NCT05645003, which also lists 3 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 9 Mar 2026.