RECRUITING

Conventional vs Bipolar SIJ RFA for Treatment of Sacroiliac Joint Pain

Study Overview

This clinical trial focuses on testing the efficacy of different digital interventions to promote re-engagement in cancer-related long-term follow-up care for adolescent and young adult (AYA) survivors of childhood cancer.

Description

Specific Aims The sacroiliac joint complex (SIJC) is a diathrodial, synovial joint and posterior ligamentous network that receives both anterior innervation from the lumbosacral plexus as well as posterior sensory innervation via the posterior sacral network (PSN). The PSN is comprised by the lateral branches S1-S3 posterior rami, with variable contributions from S4 lateral branch, L4 medial branch, and L5 dorsal ramus. Pain signals originating from the SIJC can be interrupted with image-guided percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of the PSN, thereby reducing pain and disability in carefully selected patients. A prior systematic review estimated that 32-89% of patients achieve at least 50% pain relief for six months after some type of PSN ablation. Many experts suspect that heterogenous RFA techniques and technology are responsible for the variable success rates seen across published studies. Cadaveric work suggests that targeting the PSN with a large bipolar strip lesions would result in \>95% PSN neural capture compared to a smaller lesion produced by a conventional, monopolar, periforaminal RFA technique which may capture as low as 2.5% of the PSN. Nimbus is a commonly used multi-tined RFA probe whose large bipolar lesion size make it an ideal option for complete PSN neural ablation. Both the Nimbus (N-SIJRFA) and conventional (C-SIJRFA) techniques and technologies are commonly used; however, there are no prospective RCT's comparing them, and the clinical significance remains unknown. Problem: There are no randomized controlled trials comparing novel technologies like N-SIJRFA to C-SIJRFA. Purpose: To compare pain and disability outcomes in patients with confirmed SIJC pain after randomization to either N-SIJRFA or C-SIJRFA. Central Hypothesis: N-SIJRFA will be more effective in improving pain and function compared to patients treated with C-SIJRFA at 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months. Specific Aims: 1. Compare the proportion of participants who report ≥50% relief of pain by Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) after N-SIJRFA versus C-SIJRFA. 2. Compare the proportion of participants who report ≥15-point ODI (Oswestry Disability Index) reduction after N-SIJRFA versus C-SIJRFA. 3. Compare the proportion of participants with clinically significant improvement in the categorical EuroQol 5 Dimensions tool (EQ-5D) defined by ≥0.03, after N-SIJRFA versus C-SIJRFA. 4. Compare the proportions of participants who report being "improved" or "much improved" on the Patient Global Impression of Change (PGIC) scale after N-SIJRFA versus C-SIJRFA. 5. Evaluate the differences in success rates for pain improvement, functional improvement and satisfaction in those experiencing ≥ 50%, ≥ 80%, and 100% pain relief after either prognostic PSN blocks or intra-articular (IA) sacroiliac joint (SIJ) injections. 6. Determine the effect of PSN ablation on reducing pain related sleep disturbance as measured by the Pain and Sleep Questionnaire (PSQ-3). 7. Compare procedural time requirements between those treated with N-SIJRFA versus C-SIJRFA. 8. Report adverse effects. 9. Report rates of subsequent interventional healthcare utilization including repeat N-SIJRFA versus C-SIJRFA, SIJ injection, and SIJ fusion.

Official Title

Conventional or Bipolar Radiofrequency Ablation for the Treatment of Sacroiliac Joint Pain? The COBRA-SIJ Study, a Double-blinded, Randomized, Comparative Trial.

Quick Facts

Study Start:2022-08-15
Study Completion:2027-06-30
Study Type:Not specified
Phase:Not Applicable
Enrollment:Not specified
Status:RECRUITING

Study ID

NCT05409443

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Ages Eligible for Study:18 Years to 90 Years
Sexes Eligible for Study:ALL
Accepts Healthy Volunteers:No
Standard Ages:ADULT, OLDER_ADULT
Inclusion CriteriaExclusion Criteria
  1. * Adult participants aged 18-90 years old with at least 3 months of low back pain who have not responded to at least 3 months of conservative treatment.
  2. * 7-day average NPRS for low back pain of at least 4/10 at baseline
  3. * Pain relieved by at least 50% by either a fluoroscopically-guided intraarticular sacroiliac joint injection including a local anesthetic and a fluoroscopically-guided PSN block or dual fluoroscopically-guided PSN blocks.
  4. * Participants capable of understanding and providing consent in English and capable of complying with the outcome instruments used.
  1. * History of SIJ fusion.
  2. * Prior SIJ RFA procedure
  3. * Symptomatic hip osteoarthritis
  4. * Active lumbar radicular pain
  5. * Evidence of hardware loosening (in participants with history lumbar or lumbosacral fusion).
  6. * Presence of pacemaker or neurostimulator.
  7. * Chronic widespread pain or somatoform disorder (e.g., fibromyalgia).
  8. * More than 50 mg morphine-equivalent per day opioid use.
  9. * Active bacterial infection or treatment of infection with antibiotics within the past 4 weeks.
  10. * Medical conditions causing significant functional disability (e.g., stroke, COPD).
  11. * Addictive behavior, severe clinical depression, or psychotic features.
  12. * History of anaphylactic reaction to any medication used.
  13. * Those receiving remuneration for their pain treatment (e.g., disability, worker's compensation).
  14. * Those involved in active litigation relevant to their pain.
  15. * The participant is incarcerated.

Contacts and Locations

Study Contact

PMR Research Group
CONTACT
801-587-5488
PMR.Research@hsc.utah.edu
Aaron Conger, DO
CONTACT
801-587-5488
aaron.conger@hsc.utah.edu

Study Locations (Sites)

University of Utah Farmington Health Center
Farmington, Utah, 84025
United States
University of Utah Orthopaedic Center
Salt Lake City, Utah, 84108
United States
University of Utah South Jordan Health Center
South Jordan, Utah, 84009
United States

Collaborators and Investigators

Sponsor: University of Utah

Study Record Dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Registration Dates

Study Start Date2022-08-15
Study Completion Date2027-06-30

Study Record Updates

Study Start Date2022-08-15
Study Completion Date2027-06-30

Terms related to this study

Keywords Provided by Researchers

  • Sacroiliac Joint

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

  • Sacroiliac Joint Complex
  • Low Back Pain