A 3-arm Multi-center, Randomized Controlled Study Comparing Transforaminal Corticosteroid, Transforaminal Etanercept and Transforaminal Saline for Lumbosacral Radiculopathy

NCT ID: NCT00733096

Last Updated: 2012-10-08

Study Results

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Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

PHASE2/PHASE3

Total Enrollment

84 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2008-08-31

Study Completion Date

2011-03-31

Brief Summary

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Lumbosacral radiculopathy is one of the leading of cause of disability in the U.S. and worldwide. Among recent reviews evaluating epidural steroid injections, some 1 but not all 2 concluded them to be effective in the long-term. In our own double-blind, placebo-controlled study evaluating epidural etanercept, the results showed significant benefit in favor of the etanercept group, but no subject was included with a duration of pain \> 9 months, and the results of this study have yet to be replicated.

Currently, epidural steroid injections are the most frequently performed procedures in pain clinics across the U.S. However, epidural steroids may benefit only a select group of patients. The literature on treating sciatica is notable for a lack of randomized comparative studies involving various treatments. The objective of this project is to conduct a 3-arm study to determine the efficacy of 1) transforaminal epidural corticosteroids; and 2) transforaminal epidural etanercept, in patients with lumbosacral radiculopathy.

Detailed Description

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This is a 3-arm multi-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study comparing two treatments with transforaminal epidural saline. Each group will receive a 2nd procedure identical to the first 2 weeks after the initial procedure.

Seventy-eight study participants will be randomized via a computerized randomization system using SPSS software in groups of 6 at each institution by a research nurse not involved in patient care. There will be 26 patients in each of the 3 groups. A physician unaware of the patient's treatment group will place 22-gauge needles in the relevant foramen under fluoroscopic guidance as determined by patient's symptoms and MRI findings. Once correct placement is confirmed by contrast injection, the blinded physician will leave the room and another physician will inject the medication. In group I, this will be 60 mg of depo-methylprednisolone. In group II, this will be 4 mg of etanercept reconstituted in 2 ml of sterile water. In group III, this will be normal saline.

Two weeks after the initial procedure, an identical procedure to the first one will be done by the same physician or his designate. In addition to the study medication, each patient in each group will receive 0.5 ml of 0.5% bupivacaine local anesthetic for immediate pain relief during both injections before the study drug is delivered. The efficacy of blinding will be assessed by a disinterested observer unaware of the randomization results after the second procedure before discharge. Follow-up visits will be conducted one, three and six months after the second injection, for those subjects who continue to experience \> 50% pain relief.

Conditions

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Lumbosacral Radiculopathy

Keywords

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radiculopathy sciatica low back pain

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

QUADRUPLE

Participants Caregivers Investigators Outcome Assessors

Study Groups

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1

Epidural etanercept 4 mg, two doses 2 weeks apart

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

etanercept

Intervention Type DRUG

Two transforaminal epidural injections of 4 mg, two weeks apart

2

Epidural methylprednisolone 60 mg, two doses 2 weeks apart

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

methylprednisolone

Intervention Type DRUG

Two transforaminal epidural steroid injections with 60 mg, two weeks apart

3

Epidural saline, two doses 2 weeks apart

Group Type PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

normal saline

Intervention Type DRUG

Two transforaminal epidural saline injections, two weeks apart

Interventions

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etanercept

Two transforaminal epidural injections of 4 mg, two weeks apart

Intervention Type DRUG

methylprednisolone

Two transforaminal epidural steroid injections with 60 mg, two weeks apart

Intervention Type DRUG

normal saline

Two transforaminal epidural saline injections, two weeks apart

Intervention Type DRUG

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

1. Chronic low back pain of radicular origin of \> 4 weeks but \< 6 months duration.
2. Leg pain \> back pain.
3. Failure of conservative therapy to include physical and pharmacotherapy.
4. MRI evidence of a lateral or paracentral herniated disc corresponding to the patient's radicular symptoms.

Exclusion Criteria

1. Uncontrolled coagulopathy.
2. Pregnancy, which will be ruled out by a urine pregnancy test in women of childbearing age.
3. Allergy to contrast dye or amide local anesthetics.
4. Previous epidural steroid injection within last year.
5. Unstable medical or psychiatric condition (e.g. unstable angina, congestive heart failure or severe depression) that could preclude an optimal treatment response.
6. Rheumatoid arthritis or spondylarthropathy.
7. Unstable neurological condition (e.g. multiple sclerosis)
8. Systemic infection
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

70 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Walter Reed Army Medical Center

FED

Sponsor Role collaborator

National Naval Medical Center

FED

Sponsor Role collaborator

Womack Army Medical Center

FED

Sponsor Role collaborator

Landstuhl Regional Medical Center

FED

Sponsor Role collaborator

Massachusetts General Hospital

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Johns Hopkins University

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Walter Reed Army Medical Center

Locations

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Walter Reed Army Medical Center

Washington D.C., District of Columbia, United States

Site Status

Womack Army Medical Center

Fort Bragg, North Carolina, United States

Site Status

Countries

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United States

References

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Mulleman D, Mammou S, Griffoul I, Watier H, Goupille P. Pathophysiology of disk-related sciatica. I.--Evidence supporting a chemical component. Joint Bone Spine. 2006 Mar;73(2):151-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jbspin.2005.03.003. Epub 2005 Jun 22.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 16046173 (View on PubMed)

Cohen SP, White RL, Kurihara C, Larkin TM, Chang A, Griffith SR, Gilligan C, Larkin R, Morlando B, Pasquina PF, Yaksh TL, Nguyen C. Epidural steroids, etanercept, or saline in subacute sciatica: a multicenter, randomized trial. Ann Intern Med. 2012 Apr 17;156(8):551-9. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-156-8-201204170-00397.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 22508732 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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08-6891

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id