Chronic PainNCT02837822
Effects of Spinal Cord Stimulation on Sensory Perceptions of Chronic Pain Patients
A study testing Spinal cord stimulator and Implantation of a spinal cord stimulator in people with Chronic Pain and Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, run by CHU de Quebec-Universite Laval at 2 sites in 2 countries.
Trial summary
It's well known that Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) changes the perception of chronic pain in the area stimulated by epidural electrodes. However, we don't know the effect of this type of stimulation on the perception of external sensations (temperature, touch, pressure, and vibration) and sharp pain. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Chronic Pain, Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, Failed Back Surgery Syndrome
- What is being tested?
- Spinal cord stimulator and Implantation of a spinal cord stimulator
- Type of treatment
- Medical device, Surgery or procedure
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 38 participants
- Where
- 2 sitesin 2 countries
- Study dates
- Oct 2015to May 2018
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Participant with a diagnosis of CRPS or FBSS that meet International Association for the Study of Pain's criteria;
- Pain in one leg;
- Paresthesia area limited to the treated leg;
- No changes in the programming patterns of the device for a minimum of 30 days before the tests;
- Informed consent.
Who cannot join
- Wounds or infections at the painful site.
Trial locations and contacts
2 sites in 2 countries.
2 sites in 2 countries
United States1 site
University of Toledo Medical Center
Toledo, Ohio, 43614
About this study
It's well known that Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) changes the perception of chronic pain in the area stimulated by epidural electrodes. However, we don't know the effect of this type of stimulation on the perception of external sensations (temperature, touch, pressure, and vibration) and sharp pain. Quantitative sensory testing (QST) is used to quantify somatosensory phenotype. This QST battery tests different subtypes of nerve fibres (Aβ, Aδ and C) involved in the transduction of sensory information from the periphery to the spinal cord.
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of the SCS on sensory perceptions of patients with chronic pain (CRPS, FBSS). Sensorial perception tests will be carried out in accordance with a standardized procedure (Rolke et al. Pain, 2006). For non-implanted patients, an initial visit will be conducted before the operation. For all participants, two other visits will take place at least 6 months after the operation to perform the tests with and without stimulation.
Read the detailed description
Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is a reversible and minimally invasive neuromodulation technique employs for the treatment of chronic neuropathic pain. Even if SCS is an established technology for the management of complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) and failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS), its impacts on the sensory perception system remain misunderstood.
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of the SCS on sensory perceptions of patients with chronic pain (CRPS, FBSS). Sensorial perception tests will be carried out in accordance with a standardized procedure (Rolke et al. Pain, 2006) at the level of maximum pain area (painful leg), and at two non-painful areas (contralateral leg and ipsilateral arm). The thermode "Thermal Sensory Analyser TSA-II NeuroSensory Analyzer" and its complement "Vibratory Sensory Analyzer VSA-3000" (Medoc) will be used to assess warm, cold and vibratory detection thresholds, as well as heat and cold painful thresholds. Von Frey monofilaments (Bioseb) will be used to evaluate the mechanical detection threshold. The algometer "Force Ten ™ FDX Digital" (Wagner) will measure the pressure pain threshold. Dynamic mechanical allodynia will be assessed with a standardized brush (SENSELab Brush-05, Somedic). The Neuropen (Owen Mumford) will be used to test the temporal pain summation. Participants will be recruited through the neuromodulation clinic located in Enfant-Jésus Hospital (Québec, Canada).
For non-implanted patients, an initial visit will be conducted before the operation. For all participants, two other visits will take place at least 6 months after the operation to perform the tests with and without stimulation (the order of these visits will be randomized).
For each test, an average of the absolute differences (with-without stimulation) and its confidence interval will be calculated. The results will be considered significant with p values inferior to 0,05. All analyzes will be performed with SAS (SAS 9.3 Institute Inc, Cary, NC, USA).
The protocol was peer reviewed and approved by the Ethics Committee of Enfant-Jésus Hospital. All subjects will participate after written informed consent.
- Being tested
- Spinal cord stimulator, Implantation of a spinal cord stimulator
- Keywords
- Spinal Cord Stimulation, Quantitative Sensory Testing
- Medical subject headings
- Chronic Pain, Complex Regional Pain Syndromes, Failed Back Surgery Syndrome
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Spinal cord stimulatorDevice
Also called Dorsal column stimulation
Spinal cord stimulator is a reversible and minimally invasive neuromodulation device used for the treatment of various diseases related to chronic pain, including CRPS and FBSS. Briefly, this technology uses electrical pulses to generate action potentials in nerve cells that induce paresthesias (buzzing or tingling sensations) in the affected limb and can relieve pain.
Implantation of a spinal cord stimulatorProcedure or surgery
The electrical pulses are induced by one or more electrodes surgically implanted into the epidural space. These electrodes are usually placed under the skin in the abdomen or upper buttock.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Stimulation Off | Active comparator | Patients receiving the intervention "implantation with a spinal cord stimulator". The system is turn Off during the experiment. Receives: Device: Spinal cord stimulator; Procedure: Implantation of a spinal cord stimulator |
| Stimulation On | Active comparator | Patients receiving the intervention "implantation with a spinal cord stimulator". The system is turn On during the experiment. Receives: Device: Spinal cord stimulator; Procedure: Implantation of a spinal cord stimulator |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change in sensory thresholds
Sensorial perception tests will be carried out in accordance with a standardized procedure (Rolke et al. Pain, 2006). The thermode "Thermal Sensory Analyser TSA-II NeuroSensory Analyzer" and its complement "Vibratory Sensory Analyzer VSA-3000" (Medoc) will be used to assess warm, cold and vibratory detection thresholds, as well as heat and cold painful thresholds. Von Frey monofilaments (Bioseb) will be used to evaluate the mechanical detection threshold. The algometer "Force Ten ™ FDX Digital" (Wagner) will measure the pressure pain threshold. Dynamic mechanical allodynia will be assessed with a standardized brush (SENSELab Brush-05, Somedic). The Neuropen (Owen Mumford) will be used to test the temporal pain summation.
Measured: Baseline and at least 6 months post-implantation
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted20 Jul 2016 (estimated)
- Study startOct 2015
- Primary completionMay 2018
- Study completionMay 2018
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Chronic PainStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Crossover
- Masking
- Double blind
- Who is masked
- Investigator, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 38 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- CHU de Quebec-Universite Laval
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Michel Prud'Homme, CHU de Quebec-Universite Laval
- Investigators
- Michel Prud'Homme, MD, PhD, Principal investigator, Chu de Québec - Université Laval
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT02837822
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2015-2072
- Status last verified
- Jul 2018
- First submitted
- 3 Jun 2016
- Last updated
- 17 Jul 2018
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Undecided
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 17 Jul 2018. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Effects of Spinal Cord Stimulation on Sensory Perceptions of Chronic Pain Patients
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT02837822
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 2015-2072
- Keywords
- Spinal Cord Stimulation, Quantitative Sensory Testing
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 38 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- CHU de Quebec-Universite LavalUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- Oct 2015
- Primary completion
- May 2018 (actual)
- Study completion
- May 2018 (actual)
- First posted
- 20 Jul 2016 (estimated)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
It's well known that Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) changes the perception of chronic pain in the area stimulated by epidural electrodes. However, we don't know the effect of this type of stimulation on the perception of external sensations (temperature, touch, pressure, and vibration) and sharp pain. Quantitative sensory testing (QST) is used to quantify somatosensory phenotype. This QST battery tests different subtypes of nerve fibres (Aβ, Aδ and C) involved in the transduction of sensory information from the periphery to the spinal cord.
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of the SCS on sensory perceptions of patients with chronic pain (CRPS, FBSS). Sensorial perception tests will be carried out in accordance with a standardized procedure (Rolke et al. Pain, 2006). For non-implanted patients, an initial visit will be conducted before the operation. For all participants, two other visits will take place at least 6 months after the operation to perform the tests with and without stimulation.
Detailed description
Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is a reversible and minimally invasive neuromodulation technique employs for the treatment of chronic neuropathic pain. Even if SCS is an established technology for the management of complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) and failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS), its impacts on the sensory perception system remain misunderstood.
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of the SCS on sensory perceptions of patients with chronic pain (CRPS, FBSS). Sensorial perception tests will be carried out in accordance with a standardized procedure (Rolke et al. Pain, 2006) at the level of maximum pain area (painful leg), and at two non-painful areas (contralateral leg and ipsilateral arm). The thermode "Thermal Sensory Analyser TSA-II NeuroSensory Analyzer" and its complement "Vibratory Sensory Analyzer VSA-3000" (Medoc) will be used to assess warm, cold and vibratory detection thresholds, as well as heat and cold painful thresholds. Von Frey monofilaments (Bioseb) will be used to evaluate the mechanical detection threshold. The algometer "Force Ten ™ FDX Digital" (Wagner) will measure the pressure pain threshold. Dynamic mechanical allodynia will be assessed with a standardized brush (SENSELab Brush-05, Somedic). The Neuropen (Owen Mumford) will be used to test the temporal pain summation. Participants will be recruited through the neuromodulation clinic located in Enfant-Jésus Hospital (Québec, Canada).
For non-implanted patients, an initial visit will be conducted before the operation. For all participants, two other visits will take place at least 6 months after the operation to perform the tests with and without stimulation (the order of these visits will be randomized).
For each test, an average of the absolute differences (with-without stimulation) and its confidence interval will be calculated. The results will be considered significant with p values inferior to 0,05. All analyzes will be performed with SAS (SAS 9.3 Institute Inc, Cary, NC, USA).
The protocol was peer reviewed and approved by the Ethics Committee of Enfant-Jésus Hospital. All subjects will participate after written informed consent.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Crossover
- Masking
- Double blind (investigator, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Stimulation Off | Active comparator | Device: Spinal cord stimulator, Procedure: Implantation of a spinal cord stimulatorPatients receiving the intervention "implantation with a spinal cord stimulator". The system is turn Off during the experiment. |
| Stimulation On | Active comparator | Device: Spinal cord stimulator, Procedure: Implantation of a spinal cord stimulatorPatients receiving the intervention "implantation with a spinal cord stimulator". The system is turn On during the experiment. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Participant with a diagnosis of CRPS or FBSS that meet International Association for the Study of Pain's criteria;
- Pain in one leg;
- Paresthesia area limited to the treated leg;
- No changes in the programming patterns of the device for a minimum of 30 days before the tests;
- Informed consent.
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Wounds or infections at the painful site.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Spinal cord stimulatorAlso: Dorsal column stimulationSpinal cord stimulator is a reversible and minimally invasive neuromodulation device used for the treatment of various diseases related to chronic pain, including CRPS and FBSS. Briefly, this technology uses electrical pulses to generate action potentials in nerve cells that induce paresthesias (buzzing or tingling sensations) in the affected limb and can relieve pain. | Device | Stimulation Off, Stimulation On |
| Implantation of a spinal cord stimulatorThe electrical pulses are induced by one or more electrodes surgically implanted into the epidural space. These electrodes are usually placed under the skin in the abdomen or upper buttock. | Procedure or surgery | Stimulation Off, Stimulation On |
Primary outcome
Change in sensory thresholds
Time frame: Baseline and at least 6 months post-implantation
Sensorial perception tests will be carried out in accordance with a standardized procedure (Rolke et al. Pain, 2006). The thermode "Thermal Sensory Analyser TSA-II NeuroSensory Analyzer" and its complement "Vibratory Sensory Analyzer VSA-3000" (Medoc) will be used to assess warm, cold and vibratory detection thresholds, as well as heat and cold painful thresholds. Von Frey monofilaments (Bioseb) will be used to evaluate the mechanical detection threshold. The algometer "Force Ten ™ FDX Digital" (Wagner) will measure the pressure pain threshold. Dynamic mechanical allodynia will be assessed with a standardized brush (SENSELab Brush-05, Somedic). The Neuropen (Owen Mumford) will be used to test the temporal pain summation.
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 17 Jul 2018.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Undecided
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Michel Prud'Homme, MD, PhD principal investigator
Chu de Québec - Université Laval
2 sites in 2 countries: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Spinal cord stimulator and Implantation of a spinal cord stimulator in people with Chronic Pain and Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, run by CHU de Quebec-Universite Laval at 2 sites in 2 countries.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 17 Jul 2018. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 2 sites in United States, Canada. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Change in sensory thresholds (time frame: Baseline and at least 6 months post-implantation). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 17 Jul 2018; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 7 Nov 2026.