Örebro Multicenter Study on Operative Treatment of Cervical Radiculopathy

NCT ID: NCT04177849

Last Updated: 2023-11-18

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

110 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2020-01-20

Study Completion Date

2026-01-31

Brief Summary

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This study compares anterior cervical decompression and fusion (ACDF) to posterior foraminotomy (PF) in surgical treatment for cervical radiculopathy (CR) caused by root canal compression, in a multicenter prospective randomized trial. The investigators hypothesize equal decompression of nerve root, and equal clinical outcome in both treatment groups.

Detailed Description

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Both ACDF and PF are effective in surgical treatment of CR. However, the techniques has different complication profiles and carry different costs. No comparative study with high level of evidence has been published, why the basis for clinical guidelines are lacking.

The study consists of 110 patients with CR not responding to non-surgical treatment for 6 weeks and with a Neck Disability Index (NDI) over 30 points/60 %, that are randomized to either technique in a 1:1 ratio and followed for two years.

Primary variable is NDI, secondary variables are Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NRS) separately for arm and neck pain and health related quality of life (EQ-5D). Tertiary variables are complications and reoperations. The patients are also followed radiographically with plain x-rays in extension and flexion, CT, and MRI.

The study has a non-inferiority design with ACDF as active control. A NDI difference of less than 8,5 points/17 % (=minimally clinical important difference, MCID, for NDI) is considered a non-inferior result. A secondary superiority evaluation will also be performed.

Analysis Primarily, patient-related outcome measures will be analyzed in terms of intention to treat (ITT) and include all randomized patients. Missing values will be imputed. The investigators will calculate, by using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), the mean outcome values for each treatment group, adjusted for baseline values of the outcome. The mean difference between the groups will also be presented.

Secondary outcome analyses using the Student t test, Chi-Square, Mann-Whitney, Fisher exact test.

The tertiary outcome analyses will be based on available cases. The time to revision surgery according to treatment assignment will be analyzed and plotted according to the Kaplan-Meier method, while hazard ratios, with regard to having secondary surgery after ACDF compared to PF, will be estimated by the Cox model with calendar time as the time scale. Men and women will be analyzed separately.

An "Ad Interim" analysis will be performed by a non-partial observer and/or statistician when 40 patients are included, regarding NDI difference, complications and reoperations.

Conditions

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Cervical Radiculopathy Cervical Root Compression

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

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Anterior Cervical Decompression and Fusion (ACDF)

Patients entered into this arm are treated via an anterior approach with disk excision, root canal decompression and fusion of the affected segment with a cage and plate.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

ACDF

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

A 4-cm anterolateral transverse incision is made over the index level, on either the right or left side. Platysma is sectioned transversal to its fibers and the anterior aspect of the spinal column is bluntly exposed between the carotid sheath and the esophagus. The disk is excised, including the posterior longitudinal ligament. Disk fragments and/or osteophytes from the uncovertebral joint on the affected side are removed until the root is fully decompressed. Reconstruction is typically done with an interbody spacer, autologous bone graft and a stabilizing plate screwed to the adjacent vertebral bodies. A fusion cage with integrated screws may also be used according to the surgeon's preference.

Posterior Foraminotomy (PF)

Patients entered into this arm are treated via a posterior approach through intermuscular planes. The root canal is decompressed by burring the medial third of the facet joint. No fusion is performed.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

PF

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

A 4-cm longitudinal midline incision exposes the spinous processes of the adjacent vertebrae. The facet joint covering the index foramen is exposed through intermuscular planes. The root canal is opened as the medial third of the facet joint is removed with a high-speed diamond burr. The affected nerve root is decompressed by laterally undercutting the facet joint throughout its length.

Interventions

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ACDF

A 4-cm anterolateral transverse incision is made over the index level, on either the right or left side. Platysma is sectioned transversal to its fibers and the anterior aspect of the spinal column is bluntly exposed between the carotid sheath and the esophagus. The disk is excised, including the posterior longitudinal ligament. Disk fragments and/or osteophytes from the uncovertebral joint on the affected side are removed until the root is fully decompressed. Reconstruction is typically done with an interbody spacer, autologous bone graft and a stabilizing plate screwed to the adjacent vertebral bodies. A fusion cage with integrated screws may also be used according to the surgeon's preference.

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

PF

A 4-cm longitudinal midline incision exposes the spinous processes of the adjacent vertebrae. The facet joint covering the index foramen is exposed through intermuscular planes. The root canal is opened as the medial third of the facet joint is removed with a high-speed diamond burr. The affected nerve root is decompressed by laterally undercutting the facet joint throughout its length.

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Symptoms of radiating arm pain with duration of at least six weeks
* Neck disability index (NDI) over 30 points (60%);
* Correlating findings on MRI on one or two cervical levels
* Eligible for both treatments
* Ability to understand and read Swedish.

Exclusion Criteria

* Previous cervical spine surgery
* More then two cervical levels requiring treatment
* Severe facet joint osteoarthritis
* Symptoms or marked radiologic signs of myelopathy
* Drug abuse
* Dementia or expected low compliance
* Cervical malformation
* Marked instability, 3.5-mm translation or \>11 degrees more motion compared to adjacent segments
* History of severe cervical trauma
* Generalized pain syndrome or WAD
* Pregnancy
* Rheumatoid arthritis
* Ankylosing spondylitis
* Malignancy
* Active infection or another severe systemic disease
* Patients that are unsuitable for either intervention deemed by the consultant spine surgeon
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

65 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Uppsala University Hospital

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Rygglkirurgiskt Centrum Stockholm AB

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Norrlands University Hospital

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Region Örebro County

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Marek Holy

Principal Investigator, Head of Spine Unit

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Per Wretenberg, Prof. MD. PhD

Role: STUDY_CHAIR

Region Örebro County

Claes Olerud, Prof. MD. PhD

Role: STUDY_DIRECTOR

Uppsala University

Locations

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Universistessjukhuset Örebro

Örebro, , Sweden

Site Status RECRUITING

Ryggkirurgiskt Centrum Stockholm

Stockholm, , Sweden

Site Status RECRUITING

Norrlands Universitetssjukhus

Umeå, , Sweden

Site Status NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Akademiska Sjukhuset Uppsala

Uppsala, , Sweden

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

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Sweden

Central Contacts

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Marek Holy, MD

Role: CONTACT

+46 0196025323

Claes Olerud, Prof. MD. PhD

Role: CONTACT

+46 018 611 72 24

Facility Contacts

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Marek Holy, MD

Role: primary

Martin Skeppsholm, MD. PhD

Role: primary

+46 08 12458100

Lukas Bobinski, MD. PhD

Role: primary

+46 090 785 00 00

Claes Olerud, Prof. MD. PhD

Role: primary

+46 018 611 72 24

References

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Holy M, MacDowall A, Sigmundsson FG, Olerud C. Operative treatment of cervical radiculopathy: anterior cervical decompression and fusion compared with posterior foraminotomy: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Trials. 2021 Sep 8;22(1):607. doi: 10.1186/s13063-021-05492-2.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 34496941 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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2019-00003

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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