A Comparison Study Between Contrast Spread and Loss of Resistance Techniques

NCT ID: NCT05260294

Last Updated: 2022-03-02

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

Get a concise snapshot of the trial, including recruitment status, study phase, enrollment targets, and key timeline milestones.

Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

45 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2019-08-19

Study Completion Date

2019-10-08

Brief Summary

Review the sponsor-provided synopsis that highlights what the study is about and why it is being conducted.

Early epidural space identification is critical to the efficacy and safety of cervical epidural steroid injections (CESI) \[1\]. Currently, the accepted method for epidural space recognition is the loss of resistance technique (LORT). I perform CESIs with fluoroscopy only \[2\]. I hypothesized that the contrast spread technique (CST) might recognize epidural space concurrently with or sooner than LORT. I also suggested that smaller needles might be employed with CST but not with LORT. To test my hypotheses, I conducted a comparison study.

Detailed Description

Dive into the extended narrative that explains the scientific background, objectives, and procedures in greater depth.

The study participants were patients of Astoria Pain Management, New York, USA (age 28-72 years) with a clinical diagnosis of cervical radiculitis. The Canadian SHIELD Ethics Review Board approved this study (July 18, 2019. REB tracking number: 19-06-002), conducted from August 19, 2019, to October 8, 2019. There was no funding for this study. Patients were eligible for the study if they met the criteria for cervical ESI, which included clinical and recent MRI findings confirming the diagnosis of cervical radiculitis and inadequate pain relief with conservative care for more than 3 months. Other criteria were if the procedure was covered by medical insurance, and if they signed informed consent. Patients were excluded from the study if they were taking anticoagulants or had serious comorbidities such as congestive heart failure.

The patients were divided into two groups of 20 each and underwent CESI with either an 18G or a 25G Tuohy needle. The skin was anesthetized with 1% lidocaine in the 18G group but not in the 25G group. All cervical epidurals were performed utilizing the fluoroscopy only method when the needle was navigated from the skin toward the epidural space under contralateral oblique fluoroscopy \[3\], and the contrast spread technique \[4,5\] was employed for epidural space identification. After radiological confirmation of the epidural spread, LOR was tested using an Epidrum® device (Exmoor Innovations Ltd., Somerset, UK). I utilized the Epidrum device as I consider it a more objective and reproducible method for epidural space identification independent of the provider's skill with the LORT, and because its success rate is comparable to the results attained by trained anesthesiologists employing the LOR syringe \[6, 7, 8\]. Subsequently, accompanied by the radiology assistant, I observed the Epidrum for 30 seconds or more; if the Epidrum deflated, the result was positive. However, if the device remained inflated, the result was reported as negative. The collected data was then analyzed.

Conditions

See the medical conditions and disease areas that this research is targeting or investigating.

Cervical Radiculopathy Neck Pain Disc Prolapse With Radiculopathy

Study Design

Understand how the trial is structured, including allocation methods, masking strategies, primary purpose, and other design elements.

Allocation Method

NON_RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

The patients were divided into two groups of 20 each and underwent CESI with either an 18G or a 25G Tuohy needle.
Primary Study Purpose

DIAGNOSTIC

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

Review each arm or cohort in the study, along with the interventions and objectives associated with them.

18 Gauge Tuohy group

In the 18G group, all CESIs were performed utilizing the fluoroscopy only method when the needle was navigated from the skin toward the epidural space under contralateral oblique fluoroscopy, and the contrast spread technique was employed for epidural space identification. After radiological confirmation of the epidural spread, LOR was tested using an Epidrum® device (Exmoor Innovations Ltd., Somerset, UK).

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Epidural space identification with cervical epidural steroid injection employing CST and LORT.

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Cervical epidural procedure and epidural space recognition were performed utilizing the fluoroscopy only method. With this technique, needle navigation from the skin toward the epidural space is performed under contralateral oblique fluoroscopy. With the needle at the ventral interlaminar line, the contrast spread technique was employed for epidural space identification. After radiological confirmation of the epidural spread, LOR was tested using an Epidrum® device (Exmoor Innovations Ltd., Somerset, UK). Subsequently, accompanied by the radiology assistant, I observed the Epidrum for 30 seconds or more; if the Epidrum deflated, thus confirming LOR, the result was positive. However, if the device remained inflated, the result was reported as negative. The collected data was then analyzed.

25 Gauge Tuohy group

In the 25G group, all CESIs were performed utilizing the fluoroscopy only method when the needle was navigated from the skin toward the epidural space under contralateral oblique fluoroscopy, and the contrast spread technique was employed for epidural space identification. After radiological confirmation of the epidural spread, LOR was tested using an Epidrum® device (Exmoor Innovations Ltd., Somerset, UK).

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Epidural space identification with cervical epidural steroid injection employing CST and LORT.

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Cervical epidural procedure and epidural space recognition were performed utilizing the fluoroscopy only method. With this technique, needle navigation from the skin toward the epidural space is performed under contralateral oblique fluoroscopy. With the needle at the ventral interlaminar line, the contrast spread technique was employed for epidural space identification. After radiological confirmation of the epidural spread, LOR was tested using an Epidrum® device (Exmoor Innovations Ltd., Somerset, UK). Subsequently, accompanied by the radiology assistant, I observed the Epidrum for 30 seconds or more; if the Epidrum deflated, thus confirming LOR, the result was positive. However, if the device remained inflated, the result was reported as negative. The collected data was then analyzed.

Interventions

Learn about the drugs, procedures, or behavioral strategies being tested and how they are applied within this trial.

Epidural space identification with cervical epidural steroid injection employing CST and LORT.

Cervical epidural procedure and epidural space recognition were performed utilizing the fluoroscopy only method. With this technique, needle navigation from the skin toward the epidural space is performed under contralateral oblique fluoroscopy. With the needle at the ventral interlaminar line, the contrast spread technique was employed for epidural space identification. After radiological confirmation of the epidural spread, LOR was tested using an Epidrum® device (Exmoor Innovations Ltd., Somerset, UK). Subsequently, accompanied by the radiology assistant, I observed the Epidrum for 30 seconds or more; if the Epidrum deflated, thus confirming LOR, the result was positive. However, if the device remained inflated, the result was reported as negative. The collected data was then analyzed.

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Eligibility Criteria

Check the participation requirements, including inclusion and exclusion rules, age limits, and whether healthy volunteers are accepted.

Inclusion Criteria

* Clinical and recent MRI findings confirming the diagnosis of cervical radiculitis
* Inadequate pain relief with conservative care for more than 3 months
* Signed informed consent
* The procedure was covered by medical insurance

Exclusion Criteria

* Bleeding disorder or anticoagulants therapy
* Serious comorbidities such as congestive heart failure
* Pregnancy
* Uncontrolled diabetes mellitus
* Refusal to participate in the study
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

Meet the organizations funding or collaborating on the study and learn about their roles.

Yakov Perper, MD

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

Identify the individual or organization who holds primary responsibility for the study information submitted to regulators.

Yakov Perper, MD

Director of Astoria Pain Management PLLC, Principal Investigator

Responsibility Role SPONSOR_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

Explore where the study is taking place and check the recruitment status at each participating site.

Astoria Pain Management

Astoria, New York, United States

Site Status

Countries

Review the countries where the study has at least one active or historical site.

United States

References

Explore related publications, articles, or registry entries linked to this study.

Hoffmann VL, Vercauteren MP, Vreugde JP, Hans GH, Coppejans HC, Adriaensen HA. Posterior epidural space depth: safety of the loss of resistance and hanging drop techniques. Br J Anaesth. 1999 Nov;83(5):807-9. doi: 10.1093/bja/83.5.807.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 10690148 (View on PubMed)

Doan L, Patel H, Aronova Y, Gharibo C. Variations in Interlaminar Epidural Steroid Injection Practice Patterns by Interventional Pain Management Physicians in the United States. Pain Physician. 2018 Sep;21(5):E493-E499.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 30282397 (View on PubMed)

Furman MB, Jasper NR, Lin HW. Fluoroscopic contralateral oblique view in interlaminar interventions: a technical note. Pain Med. 2012 Nov;13(11):1389-96. doi: 10.1111/j.1526-4637.2012.01484.x. Epub 2012 Sep 19.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 22994264 (View on PubMed)

Perper Y. Contrast spread technique. Pain Med. 2015 Apr;16(4):827-8. doi: 10.1111/pme.12650. Epub 2015 Feb 4. No abstract available.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 25651004 (View on PubMed)

Perper Y. Contrast Spread Technique: Evolution. Pain Med. 2016 Jul;17(7):1385-1386. doi: 10.1093/pm/pnv100. Epub 2016 Feb 5. No abstract available.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 26849949 (View on PubMed)

Kartal S, Kosem B, Kilinc H, Kosker H, Karabayirli S, Cimen NK, Demircioglu RI. Comparison of Epidrum, Epi-Jet, and Loss of Resistance syringe techniques for identifying the epidural space in obstetric patients. Niger J Clin Pract. 2017 Aug;20(8):992-997. doi: 10.4103/1119-3077.214366.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 28891544 (View on PubMed)

Kim SW, Kim YM, Kim SH, Chung MH, Choi YR, Choi EM. Comparison of loss of resistance technique between Epidrum(R) and conventional method for identifying the epidural space. Korean J Anesthesiol. 2012 Apr;62(4):322-6. doi: 10.4097/kjae.2012.62.4.322. Epub 2012 Apr 23.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 22558497 (View on PubMed)

Sawada A, Kii N, Yoshikawa Y, Yamakage M. Epidrum((R)): a new device to identify the epidural space with an epidural Tuohy needle. J Anesth. 2012 Apr;26(2):292-5. doi: 10.1007/s00540-011-1278-1. Epub 2011 Nov 13.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 22081113 (View on PubMed)

Perper Y. Identification of cervical epidural space: A comparison study between contrast spread and loss of resistance techniques. Front Pain Res (Lausanne). 2022 Dec 20;3:1000209. doi: 10.3389/fpain.2022.1000209. eCollection 2022.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 36618582 (View on PubMed)

Provided Documents

Download supplemental materials such as informed consent forms, study protocols, or participant manuals.

Document Type: Study Protocol and Statistical Analysis Plan

View Document

Document Type: Informed Consent Form

View Document

Other Identifiers

Review additional registry numbers or institutional identifiers associated with this trial.

19-06-002

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

More Related Trials

Additional clinical trials that may be relevant based on similarity analysis.