MedTrace Logo

Is Treatment of the Intervertebral Disc More Effective at Short-term Than the Nerve Root in Patients With a Neck Hernia?

NCT01797172 · Status: UNKNOWN · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 38

Last updated 2013-02-22

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Pain management in a neck hernia relies initially on rest, physiotherapy, and/or oral medications. Once these treatments have failed, different alternative procedures can be applied to relief pain. Thermal treatment of the intervertebral disc (Percutaneous Cervical Nucleoplasty; PCN) is the most often applied technique on the neck with a low risk of thermal damage. A variety of published studies have demonstrated this treatment to be both safe and effective. However, treatment of the nerve root (Pulsed Radio Frequency; PRF) is also a popular type of pain treatment. The application of PRF is also a safe and useful intervention for neck pain. Although these treatment types are described in the literature, the available evidence for efficacy is not sufficient to allow definitive conclusions on the optimal therapy to be made. The purpose of this study is to investigate which technique is the most effective in terms of pain relief on short term in patients with contained cervical disc herniation: PCN or PRF?

Conditions

  • Contained Cervical Disc Herniation

Interventions

PROCEDURE

Percutaneous Cervical Nucleoplasty

Cervical nucleoplasty is a method of percutaneous disc decompression using a 19 Gauge Trocar 3 inch spine needle (ArthroCare Co., Sunnyvale, CA, USA) which is brought to the annulus fibrosis of the herniated disc. If in the correct position, the stylet is withdrawn and the Perc DC SpineWand (ArthroCare Co., Sunnyvale, CA, USA) is introduced. The procedure relies on so-called Coblation technology which involves removing a portion of the nucleus tissue by using radio frequency energy. More specific, it results in ablation of a portion of nucleus tissue, not with heat, but with a low-temperature (typically 40-70° C) plasma field of ionized particles.

PROCEDURE

Pulsed Radio Frequency

Pulsed Radio Frequency involves placement of a needle close to the to-be-treated nerve or dorsal root ganglion (DRG). The position is checked radiographically and by motor and sensory nerve stimulation. When the needle has been placed correctly an electrode is introduced, which conducts short bursts of radio frequency energy to nervous tissue. It is known as a non- or minimally neurodestructive technique, alternative to radio frequency heat lesions using so-called thermocoagulation. No nerve damage takes places as the temperature of the tip of the needle does not exceed 42°C. This is achieved by relatively long pauses between pulses which allow generated heat to dissipate and prevent the development of any thermal lesion.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Willy Halim

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Willy Halim, MD, FIPP · Department of Anesthesia and Pain Management, St. Anna Hospital, Geldrop, The Netherlands

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2012-10-31
Primary Completion
2014-07-31
Completion
2014-07-31

Countries

  • Netherlands

Study Locations

More Related Trials

Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT01797172 on ClinicalTrials.gov