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Intra-discal Injection of PRP for Low Back Pain

NCT03712527 · Status: COMPLETED · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 126

Last updated 2026-05-15

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Low back pain (LBP) is the second cause of medical visits in France. Indeed, its incidence can vary between 60 and 90%. LBP is also the leading cause of disability in the adult population in France and in the rest of the world. Its evolution towards chronicity is observed in less than 8% of cases, but it is responsible for 85% of the medical costs. Degenerative disk disease (DDD) is a major cause of chronic LBP (\> 40%). DDD can be characterized by peculiar Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) features with a strong correlation between pain and inflammatory aspect of the disk, which result in the so-called active discopathy (AD) (Brinjikji et al. 2015). Modic classification based on MRI of the lumbar spine is considered as a reference. Type 1 Modic signal changes are characterised by a low-intensity signal on T1-weighted sequences and hyperintense signal on T2-weighted sequences, with gadolinium injection enhancement, corresponding to bone marrow oedema. Type 1 Modic is very rare in an asymptomatic population but may be found in 5% to 40% of chronic LBP patients underscoring its symptomatic involvement. No currently reference treatment is available for AD.

PRP technology has recently been widely developed in osteoarthritis and tendon injuries. Therapeutic benefit of PRP has being evaluated. For instance, no randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have specifically evaluated the effect of PRP in AD (Modic 1 signal). The availability of PRP for intra- discal injection could become an innovative therapeutic option in humans, especially for AD forms where inflammatory process is clearly predominant.

The objective of the study is to evaluate the 3-month efficacy on pain and function (by achieving 30% improvement in Oswestry Disability Index) of one intra-discal PRP injection versus placebo (saline solution) in subjects with LBP associated with AD lasting more than 3 months.

Conditions

  • Chronic Low Back Pain

Interventions

OTHER

Injection of Platelet rich plasma

The blood of the PRP patients group will be centrifuged by the nurse using the dedicated device. A single centrifugation is required to separate the red and white blood platelets and plasma. This method of centrifugation is carried out using specific kits (Mini-GPS System III, Zimmer Biomet Company). The PRP is then collected by the nurse into a syringe that will be provided to the injector physician. Duration of preparation: 20 to 25 minutes. After a standardized sterile preparation, a local anaesthesia will be performed. Then, the injector will inject a volume of 2 mL of PRP into the median portion of the suspected disc under radiographic guidance.

OTHER

Injection of NaCl

The placebo will be a single-dose of saline solution which corresponds to NaCl 0,9% ProAmp 10 ml (Laboratoire Aguettant). The vials will be kept at room temperature (≤ 25°C) within the local pharmacy of each centre. 2 mL of this solution will be intra-discal injected.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • University Hospital, Montpellier

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Yves-Marie PERS · University Hospital, Montpellier

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Max Age
60 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2018-11-15
Primary Completion
2026-02-16
Completion
2026-02-16

Countries

  • France

Study Locations

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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 NCT03712527 on ClinicalTrials.gov