Comparison of Pulsed and Thermal Radiofrequency for Trigeminal Neuralgia

NCT ID: NCT06684275

Last Updated: 2024-12-31

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

60 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2024-11-10

Study Completion Date

2025-04-10

Brief Summary

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The goal of this clinical trial is to compare the effectiveness of Pulsed Radiofrequency (PRF) with Pulsed and Thermal Radiofrequency (PRF + TRF) in treating Trigeminal Neuralgia (TN) in adults.

The main questions it aims to answer are:

* Does PRF or PRF + TRF provide better pain relief for patients with trigeminal neuralgia?
* What is the safety profile and complication rate of PRF versus PRF + TRF?

Researchers will compare the effects of PRF and PRF + TRF to see if thermal lesioning in addition to pulsed RF provides superior long-term pain relief and reduces the need for analgesic medication.

Participants will:

* Undergo either PRF or PRF + TRF treatment targeting the trigeminal nerve.
* Be assessed for pain relief, functional status, and adverse events over a 3-month follow-up period.

Detailed Description

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This study is a randomized controlled trial designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Pulsed Radiofrequency (PRF) versus Pulsed and Thermal Radiofrequency (PRF + TRF) for treating Trigeminal Neuralgia (TN). Trigeminal neuralgia is a debilitating chronic pain condition that affects the trigeminal nerve, causing intense facial pain.

The study will enroll participants with TN, randomized into two groups:

* Group 1 (PRF): Patients will receive pulsed radiofrequency treatment with parameters set to standard levels for pain relief.
* Group 2 (PRF + TRF): Patients will receive pulsed radiofrequency combined with thermal lesioning (60-70°C) to target the trigeminal nerve.

Both procedures will be performed under aseptic conditions with appropriate monitoring and anesthesia. The primary outcome will be pain reduction measured using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) over a 12-week period. Secondary outcomes include changes in medication consumption assessed by the Medication Quantification Scale III (MQS III) and the recording of procedure-related adverse events.

Participants will undergo follow-up assessments at Week 1, Week 4, and Week 12 post-treatment.

Conditions

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Trigeminal Neuralgia

Keywords

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Trigeminal Neuralgia Pulsed Radiofrequency Thermal Radiofrequency Neuropathic Pain Facial Pain Radiofrequency Ablation

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Participants will be randomly assigned to one of the two groups (PRF or PRF + TRF)
Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Outcome Assessors
Given the specific nature of the interventions, it may not be possible to blind participants or operators; however, to minimize potential bias, outcome assessors will be blinded to the treatment assignments.

Study Groups

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Pulsed Radiofrequency (PRF)

Participants in this group will receive pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) treatment targeted to the trigeminal nerve. The procedure will involve a standard PRF protocol.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Pulsed Radiofrequency (PRF)

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Participants will receive pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) treatment targeting the trigeminal nerve to manage pain associated with trigeminal neuralgia. This non-ablative technique uses electrical pulses to modulate nerve function, aiming to provide pain relief without creating a thermal lesion.

Pulsed and Thermal Radiofrequency (PRF + TRF)

Participants in this group will receive a combination of pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) and thermal radiofrequency (TRF). The TRF procedure will involve creating a thermal lesion at a target temperature in addition to the standard PRF treatment protocol.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Pulsed and Thermal Radiofrequency (PRF + TRF)

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Participants will receive a combination of pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) and thermal radiofrequency (TRF) treatments targeting the trigeminal nerve. This approach combines the non-ablative effects of PRF with the thermal lesioning of TRF to provide long-term pain relief for trigeminal neuralgia.

Interventions

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Pulsed Radiofrequency (PRF)

Participants will receive pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) treatment targeting the trigeminal nerve to manage pain associated with trigeminal neuralgia. This non-ablative technique uses electrical pulses to modulate nerve function, aiming to provide pain relief without creating a thermal lesion.

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Pulsed and Thermal Radiofrequency (PRF + TRF)

Participants will receive a combination of pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) and thermal radiofrequency (TRF) treatments targeting the trigeminal nerve. This approach combines the non-ablative effects of PRF with the thermal lesioning of TRF to provide long-term pain relief for trigeminal neuralgia.

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Adults aged 18-60 years.
* Diagnosis of classical trigeminal neuralgia, as per the International Classification of Headache Disorders criteria
* Patients experiencing unilateral, episodic facial pain for at least six months with a Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) score greater than 6, despite medical treatment.
* Able to provide informed consent.
* Agree to follow the study procedures and attend follow-up visits.

Exclusion Criteria

* Patients with secondary trigeminal neuralgia (e.g., due to tumors, multiple sclerosis).
* Previous surgery or radiofrequency treatment for trigeminal neuralgia.
* Pregnant or breastfeeding women.
* Known allergies to anesthetics or other agents used in the procedure.
* Significant psychiatric disorders that may interfere with pain assessment or study participation.
* Coagulopathy or use of anticoagulants that contraindicate the procedure.
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

60 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Zagazig University

OTHER_GOV

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Ahmed Awad Bessar

Assistant Professor of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Ahmed A Bessar, MD, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Assistant Professor of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Zagazig Uni.

Locations

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Zagazig University, Faculty of Medicine

Zagazig, Sharqia Province, Egypt

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

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Egypt

Central Contacts

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Ahmed A Bessar, MD, PhD

Role: CONTACT

Phone: +201000089595

Email: [email protected]

Facility Contacts

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Ahmed A Bessar, MD, PhD

Role: primary

Other Identifiers

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PRF-TRF-TN

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id