Cryoneurolysis Outcome on Pain Experience (COPE) in Patients With Low-back Pain

NCT ID: NCT04786145

Last Updated: 2022-08-25

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

UNKNOWN

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

120 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2020-02-15

Study Completion Date

2022-10-01

Brief Summary

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This study will provide information on the effectiveness of cryoneurolysis for patients with facet joint pain syndrome, and help to establish whether cryoneurolysis should be implemented in clinical practice for this patient population.

Detailed Description

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Background: Low-back pain, including facet joint pain, accounts for up to 20 percent of all sick leaves in Denmark; among these are patients with facet joint pain syndrome. A proposed treatment option is cryoneurolysis. This study aims to investigate the effect of cryoneurolysis in lumbar facet joint pain syndrome

Methods: A single-center randomized controlled trial (RCT) is performed including 120 participants with chronic facet joint pain syndrome, referred to the Department of Neurosurgery, Aarhus University Hospital. Eligible patients receive a diagnostic anesthetic block, where a reduction of pain intensity \>50 % on a numerical rating scale (NRS) is required to be enrolled. Participants are randomized into three groups to undergo either one treatment of cryoneurolysis, radiofrequency ablation or placebo. Fluoroscopy and sensory stimulation is used to identify the intended target nerve prior to administrating the above-mentioned treatments. All groups receive physiotherapy for 6 weeks, starting 4 weeks after treatment. The primary outcome is a reduction in low-back pain intensity and an impression of change in pain after intervention (Patient Global Impression of Change (PGIC)) at 4 weeks follow-up, prior to physiotherapy. Secondary outcomes are quality of life (EQ-5D, SF-36) and level of function (Oswestry Disability Index), psychological perception of pain (Pain Catastrophizing Scale) and depression status (Major Depression Inventory). Data will be assessed at baseline (T0), randomization (T1), day one (T2), 4 weeks (T3), 3 (T4), 6 (T5) and 12 months

Conditions

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Chronic Low-back Pain Facet Joint Pain Degeneration Lumbar Spine Facet Joint Syndrome Back Pain Lower Back Chronic

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

The study is a single-center, blinded randomized controlled trial with two intervention arms and one placebo arm with allocation ratio of 1:1:1. One group receives one treatment of cryoneurolysis, the second group receives radiofrequency ablation and the third group receives placebo (control group).
Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

TRIPLE

Participants Caregivers Outcome Assessors
Outcomes Assessors, physiotherapists and participants are blinded to the intervention.

Study Groups

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Cryoneurolysis

40 patients are randomized to receive one treatment of cryoneurolysis on the facet joints of three lumbar level corresponding to their facet joint pain generator

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Cryoneurolysis

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

This is a medical procedure that temporarily blocks nerve conduction along peripheral nerve pathways by freezing it. Small probe is inserted in order to freeze the target nerve, can facilitate complete regeneration of the structure and function of the affected nerve.

Radiofrequency ablation

40 patients are randomized to receive one treatment of radiofrequency ablation on the facet joints of three lumbar level corresponding to their facet joint pain generator

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Radiofrequency ablation

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

This is a medical procedure that temporarily blocks nerve conduction along peripheral nerve pathways. Small needle with an active heating tip is inserted, to destroy the functionality of the target nerve using heat from radiofrequency energy.

Placebo

40 patients are randomized to receive sham treatment. Subjected to similar procedures as cryoneurolysis and radiofrequency ablation, but without active treatment.

Group Type SHAM_COMPARATOR

Placebo

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

No active treatment is given.

Interventions

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Cryoneurolysis

This is a medical procedure that temporarily blocks nerve conduction along peripheral nerve pathways by freezing it. Small probe is inserted in order to freeze the target nerve, can facilitate complete regeneration of the structure and function of the affected nerve.

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Radiofrequency ablation

This is a medical procedure that temporarily blocks nerve conduction along peripheral nerve pathways. Small needle with an active heating tip is inserted, to destroy the functionality of the target nerve using heat from radiofrequency energy.

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Placebo

No active treatment is given.

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Other Intervention Names

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cryoanalgesia cryoneuroablation

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Low-back pain from facet joint syndrom (facet joint pain) \> 3 months' duration with or without neuropathic pain component.
* Low-back pain on Numeric Rating Scale ≥ 4

Exclusion Criteria

* Presence of nerve root or spinal canal compression; signs of inflammatory or erosive processes in the spine verified on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
* Neurological deficits i.e. symptoms of nerve root compression; tingling, numbness, weakness/ paresis, and reflex loss in the lower extremities.
* Major co-morbidity.
* Anti-thrombotic or anti-platelet treatment which cannot be paused for a week.
* Active malignancies.
* Chronic inflammatory disease.
* Known severe psychiatric disease. Patients with mild and well-treated depression and anxiety are not excluded.
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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Aarhus University Hospital

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

University of Aarhus

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

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Kaare Meier, MD, Ph.D

Role: STUDY_DIRECTOR

University of Aarhus

Lone Nikolajsen, M.D, Prof.

Role: STUDY_DIRECTOR

University of Aarhus

Maurits Van Tulder, Prof.

Role: STUDY_DIRECTOR

University of Aarhus

Jens Christian H Sørensen, M.D, Prof.

Role: STUDY_DIRECTOR

University of Aarhus

Locations

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Department of Neurosurgery, Aarhus University Hospital

Aarhus, Central Denmark, Denmark

Site Status

Countries

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Denmark

References

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Reference Type BACKGROUND

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Reference Type BACKGROUND
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Reference Type BACKGROUND
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Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 17196489 (View on PubMed)

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Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 26495910 (View on PubMed)

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Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 29220124 (View on PubMed)

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Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 28576500 (View on PubMed)

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Reference Type BACKGROUND
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Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 11690728 (View on PubMed)

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Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 30864544 (View on PubMed)

Perrot S, Lanteri-Minet M. Patients' Global Impression of Change in the management of peripheral neuropathic pain: Clinical relevance and correlations in daily practice. Eur J Pain. 2019 Jul;23(6):1117-1128. doi: 10.1002/ejp.1378. Epub 2019 Mar 18.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
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Correll DJ. The Measurement of Pain: Objectifying the Subjective. Pain Management volume 1, 2007, Pages 197-211

Reference Type BACKGROUND

Truong K, Meier K, Ahrens LC, Wichmann TO, Zaer H, Tiroke LH, Arvin S, Bazys M, Duel P, Gudmundsdottir G, Carlsen JG, Nikolajsen L, van Tulder M, Sorensen JCH, Rasmussen MM. Cryoneurolysis versus radiofrequency ablation outcome on pain experience in chronic low back pain (COPE): a single-blinded randomised controlled trial. RMD Open. 2024 May 9;10(2):e004196. doi: 10.1136/rmdopen-2024-004196.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 38724261 (View on PubMed)

Truong K, Meier K, Nikolajsen L, van Tulder MW, Sorensen JCH, Rasmussen MM. Cryoneurolysis' outcome on pain experience (COPE) in patients with low-back pain: study protocol for a single-blinded randomized controlled trial. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2021 May 19;22(1):458. doi: 10.1186/s12891-021-04320-7.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 34011351 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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COPE

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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