Comparative Trial Via Tranforaminal Approach Versus Epidural Catheter Via Interlaminar Approach

NCT ID: NCT03382821

Last Updated: 2022-11-25

Study Results

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Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

PHASE4

Total Enrollment

120 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2017-09-15

Study Completion Date

2020-08-19

Brief Summary

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Do cervical epidural steroid injections done by transforaminal catheter targeted approach improve pain and function in patients with cervical radicular pain?

Detailed Description

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Two distinct techniques used to administer epidural steroids specifically to the nerve root affected in a radicular pain syndrome, which include transforaminal access at the level of pathology and interlaminar interlaminar access at the C7-T1 level with subsequent advancement of an epidural cathether to the level of pathology. Use of an epidural catheter is necessary in order to achieve a targeted injection via an interlaminar approach in order to prevent dural puncture or direct spinal cord trauma. Anatomic studies confirm the distance between the ligamentum flavum and dura is on average, 4 mm at the C7-T1 or C6-C7 levels, but 1mm or smaller at C5-C6 and more rostral levels. Therefore, there is likely greater risk of dural puncture and spinal cord injury when "targeting" steroid delivery using only the interlaminar technique directly at the level where pathology is located (C4-C5, or C5-C6, for example). Thus, the interlaminar placement of a needle rostral to the C6-C7 level has been strongly discouraged.

Both the transforaminal injection approach and the targeted catheter approach demonstrate effectiveness. Studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of transforaminal epidural steroid injection for the treatment of cervical radicular pain. Our own recent work demonstrates the clinical effectiveness of the catheter-based targeted approach. However, these two approaches have never been directly compared. Thus, we aim to compare the differences in pain reduction, medication utilization, functional outcomes, patient satisfaction, and surgical rate reduction between these two approaches to the treatment of cervical radicular pain.

Cervical radicular pain is a common syndrome, often treated with epidural steroid injection (ESI). An approach that targets the therapeutic agent, corticosteroid, at the site of spinal pathology can be performed via a transforaminal approach or via a interlaminar approach at C7-T1 with subsequent epidural catheter advancement to the symptomatic level. There are no universal guidelines that recommend the use of one technique over the other. We will directly compare the clinical effectiveness of these two approaches as measured by pain reduction, medication utilization, functional outcomes, patient satisfaction, and surgical rate reduction. The results of this study will potentially influence clinical practice recommendations regarding the treatment of cervical radicular pain. If one technique proves superior, instating this technique will have implications potentially for reducing opioid use, surgery and other healthcare utilization, and general healthcare cost related to the treatment of cervical radicular pain.

Conditions

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Cervical Radiculopathy

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Prospective, randomized, comparative trial
Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Participants
Each subject will be randomized into a group assignment in a 1:1 manner, #1 or #2, as outlined in the Methods section

Study Groups

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Transforaminal ESI with dexamethasone

Group 1: Transforaminal cervical ESI with dexamethasone sodium phosphate

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Transforaminal ESI with dexamethasone

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Catheter-targeted ESI via interlaminar access at the C7-T1 level with dexamethasone sodium phosphate 1.5 mL (10 mg/mL) and 1 ml 1% lidocaine (total volume 2.5 mL).

Dexamethasone Sodium Phosphate 10 MG/ML

Intervention Type DRUG

Transforaminal ESI with dexamethasone 1.5 mL of dexamethasone sodium phosphate in group #1

Lidocaine

Intervention Type DRUG

1 mL of 1% lidocaine as diluent for the steroid in both group #1 and group #2

Transforaminal catheter-targeted ESI with triamcinolone

Group 2: Catheter-targeted cervical ESI with triamcinolone acetonide

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Transforaminal catheter-targeted ESI with triamcinolone

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Catheter-targeted ESI via interlaminar access at the C7-T1 level with triamcinolone acetonide 2 mL (40mg/mL) and 1 ml 1% lidocaine (total volume 3 mL).

Lidocaine

Intervention Type DRUG

1 mL of 1% lidocaine as diluent for the steroid in both group #1 and group #2

Triamcinolone Acetonide 40mg/mL

Intervention Type DRUG

Transforaminal catheter-targeted ESI with triamcinolone acetonide 2 mL in group #2

Interventions

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Transforaminal ESI with dexamethasone

Catheter-targeted ESI via interlaminar access at the C7-T1 level with dexamethasone sodium phosphate 1.5 mL (10 mg/mL) and 1 ml 1% lidocaine (total volume 2.5 mL).

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Transforaminal catheter-targeted ESI with triamcinolone

Catheter-targeted ESI via interlaminar access at the C7-T1 level with triamcinolone acetonide 2 mL (40mg/mL) and 1 ml 1% lidocaine (total volume 3 mL).

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Dexamethasone Sodium Phosphate 10 MG/ML

Transforaminal ESI with dexamethasone 1.5 mL of dexamethasone sodium phosphate in group #1

Intervention Type DRUG

Lidocaine

1 mL of 1% lidocaine as diluent for the steroid in both group #1 and group #2

Intervention Type DRUG

Triamcinolone Acetonide 40mg/mL

Transforaminal catheter-targeted ESI with triamcinolone acetonide 2 mL in group #2

Intervention Type DRUG

Other Intervention Names

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Xylocaine Kenalog

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Age 18-80.
* Clinical diagnosis of unilateral C4-C8 radicular pain.
* Magnetic resonance imaging pathology consistent with clinical symptoms/signs.
* Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) pain score of 4 or higher.
* Pain duration of more than 6 weeks despite trial of conservative therapy (medications, physical therapy, or chiropractic care).

Exclusion Criteria

* Refusal to participate, provide consent, or provide follow-up information for the 6-month duration of the study.
* Contraindications to Cervical Epidural Steroid Iinjection (CESI) (active infection, bleeding disorders, current anticoagulant or antiplatelet medication use, allergy to medications used for Cervical epidural steroid injection (CESI), and pregnancy).
* Cervical spinal cord lesions; cerebrovascular, demyelinating, or other neuro-muscular muscular disease.
* Current glucocorticoid use or Epidural Steroid Injection (ESI) within past 6 months.
* Prior cervical spine surgery.
* Patient request for or requirement of conscious sedation for the injection procedure.
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

80 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Epimed

INDUSTRY

Sponsor Role collaborator

University of Utah

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Zack McCormick

Zachary L. McCormick, MD

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Zachary L McCormick, MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University of Utah

Locations

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University of Utah Orthopaedic Center

Salt Lake City, Utah, United States

Site Status

Countries

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United States

References

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Provided Documents

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Document Type: Study Protocol and Statistical Analysis Plan

View Document

Other Identifiers

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105766

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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