Intercostal NeuralgiaICN-RF-INNCT07367152
Predictors of Success After Intercostal Nerve Radiofrequency Treatment for Intercostal Neuralgia
An observational study of Intercostal Neuralgia and Postherpetic Neuralgia ( PHN ), run by Mersin University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
Trial summary
This retrospective cohort study will review medical records of patients treated with intercostal nerve radiofrequency for intercostal neuralgia. The goal is to identify patient and clinical factors that are associated with treatment success after the procedure. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Intercostal Neuralgia, Postherpetic Neuralgia ( PHN ), Thoracic Neuropathic Pain
- What is being tested?
- Intercostal Nerve Conventional Radiofrequency Ablation (CRF) and Intercostal Nerve Pulsed Radiofrequency (PRF)
- Type of treatment
- Surgery or procedure
- How many people
- 60 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
- Study dates
- 1 Jan 2018to 30 Nov 2025
- Phase
- Observational
- 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
Study population: Adults (≥18 years) with intercostal neuralgia who underwent ultrasound-guided intercostal nerve radiofrequency treatment (conventional or pulsed) in routine clinical care and had documented baseline and at least 6-month follow-up NRS-11 pain scores.
Who may be able to join
- Age ≥ 18 years.
- Diagnosis of intercostal neuralgia (post-traumatic, postherpetic, or idiopathic) with thoracic neuropathic pain for at least 1 month
- Underwent ultrasound-guided intercostal nerve radiofrequency treatment (conventional radiofrequency ablation [CRF] or pulsed radiofrequency [PRF]) as part of routine clinical care
- Documented baseline NRS-11 pain score prior to the procedure and follow-up NRS-11 data available through at least 6 months after treatment.
Who cannot join
- Thoracic pain attributable to malignancy-related causes (e.g., active malignant invasion, spinal metastasis) or an intrathoracic mass
- History of thoracic surgery at the corresponding thoracic dermatome level (e.g., thoracotomy or VATS)
- Prior radiofrequency treatment at the same intercostal nerve site
- Receipt of other interventional treatments targeting the intercostal nerve during the study period (e.g., cryoablation or chemical neurolysis)
- Insufficient follow-up data (less than 6 months of follow-up NRS-11 documentation).
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
Turkey (Türkiye)1 site
Mersin University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Algology
Mersin, Mersin, 33110
About this study
Official title: Predictors of Treatment Success After Intercostal Nerve Radiofrequency for Intercostal Neuralgia: A Retrospective Cohort Study
This retrospective cohort study will review medical records of patients treated with intercostal nerve radiofrequency for intercostal neuralgia. The goal is to identify patient and clinical factors that are associated with treatment success after the procedure. Outcomes will be assessed using pain measures documented during routine follow-up visits, along with any recorded adverse events. No additional visits, tests, or interventions are required because this study uses previously collected clinical data.
Read the detailed description
This retrospective cohort study analyzed anonymized medical records of adults (≥18 years) with intercostal neuralgia (post-traumatic, postherpetic, or idiopathic) treated in Pain Clinic of Mersin University Faculty of Medicine who underwent ultrasound-guided intercostal conventional radiofrequency ablation (CRF) or pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) between January 1, 2018 and May 30, 2025.
Primary outcome is treatment response at 6 months, defined by IMMPACT criteria as a ≥50% reduction or ≥4-point decrease in NRS-11 from baseline; secondary outcomes include changes in NRS-11 over time, and exploratory analyses evaluate whether clinical factors (e.g., age, sex, pain duration, diagnosis, presence of allodynia, and number of treated intercostal levels )are associated with response using multivariable logistic regression (p < 0.05 considered statistically significant).
The findings are expected to clarify which patient and clinical characteristics are linked to better outcomes after intercostal nerve radiofrequency and to support more individualized decision-making in the management of intercostal neuralgia.
- Being tested
- Intercostal Nerve Conventional Radiofrequency Ablation (CRF), Intercostal Nerve Pulsed Radiofrequency (PRF)
- Keywords
- Intercostal nerve, Pulsed radiofrequency, Conventional radiofrequency, Ultrasound-guided
- Medical subject headings
- Neuralgia, Postherpetic
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Intercostal Nerve Conventional Radiofrequency Ablation (CRF)Procedure or surgery
Ultrasound-guided intercostal nerve lesioning at 80°C for 90 seconds following sensory stimulation.
Intercostal Nerve Pulsed Radiofrequency (PRF)Procedure or surgery
Ultrasound-guided intercostal pulsed radiofrequency delivered at 42°C for 240 seconds.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Intercostal Nerve Radiofrequency Cohort | Adults with intercostal neuralgia who underwent ultrasound-guided intercostal nerve radiofrequency treatment (conventional or pulsed) as part of routine clinical care. Receives: Procedure: Intercostal Nerve Conventional Radiofrequency Ablation (CRF); Procedure: Intercostal Nerve Pulsed Radiofrequency (PRF) |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Treatment response at 6 months (IMMPACT-defined responder rate)
Responder defined as ≥50% reduction or ≥4-point decrease in NRS-11 compared with baseline.
Measured: 6 months
Secondary outcomes (1)
Change in NRS-11 pain score from baseline
NRS-11 ranges from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst imaginable pain).
Measured: Baseline, 3 months, and 6 months
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted26 Jan 2026
- Study start1 Jan 2018
- Primary completion30 Nov 2025
- Study completion30 Nov 2025
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (2)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Intercostal NeuralgiaStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Mersin UniversityThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- 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
- Observational
- Observational model
- Cohort
- Time perspective
- Retrospective
- Enrolment
- 60 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Mersin University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Mesut Bakır, Mersin University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07367152
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- MERSINALG-INTERCOSTALRF-2026
- Acronym
- ICN-RF-IN
- Status last verified
- Jan 2026
- First submitted
- 16 Jan 2026
- Last updated
- 26 Jan 2026
- Results posted
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: This is a retrospective study based on de-identified patient records. No individual participant data (IPD) will be shared. Only aggregated results may be published in scientific journals.
Publications
Huang X, Ma Y, Wang W, Guo Y, Xu B, Ma K. Efficacy and safety of pulsed radiofrequency modulation of thoracic dorsal root ganglion or intercostal nerve on postherpetic neuralgia in aged patients: a retrospective study. BMC Neurol. 2021 Jun 24;21(1):233. doi: 10.1186/s12883-021-02286-6.
PubMed 34162352Engel AJ. Utility of intercostal nerve conventional thermal radiofrequency ablations in the injured worker after blunt trauma. Pain Physician. 2012 Sep-Oct;15(5):E711-8.
PubMed 22996865
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 26 Jan 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Predictors of Treatment Success After Intercostal Nerve Radiofrequency for Intercostal Neuralgia: A Retrospective Cohort Study
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07367152
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- ICN-RF-IN / MERSINALG-INTERCOSTALRF-2026
- Keywords
- Intercostal nerve, Pulsed radiofrequency, Conventional radiofrequency, Ultrasound-guided
- Study type
- Observational
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 60 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Mersin UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Jan 2018 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 30 Nov 2025 (actual)
- Study completion
- 30 Nov 2025 (actual)
- First posted
- 26 Jan 2026 (actual)
- 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.
This retrospective cohort study will review medical records of patients treated with intercostal nerve radiofrequency for intercostal neuralgia. The goal is to identify patient and clinical factors that are associated with treatment success after the procedure. Outcomes will be assessed using pain measures documented during routine follow-up visits, along with any recorded adverse events. No additional visits, tests, or interventions are required because this study uses previously collected clinical data.
Detailed description
This retrospective cohort study analyzed anonymized medical records of adults (≥18 years) with intercostal neuralgia (post-traumatic, postherpetic, or idiopathic) treated in Pain Clinic of Mersin University Faculty of Medicine who underwent ultrasound-guided intercostal conventional radiofrequency ablation (CRF) or pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) between January 1, 2018 and May 30, 2025.
Primary outcome is treatment response at 6 months, defined by IMMPACT criteria as a ≥50% reduction or ≥4-point decrease in NRS-11 from baseline; secondary outcomes include changes in NRS-11 over time, and exploratory analyses evaluate whether clinical factors (e.g., age, sex, pain duration, diagnosis, presence of allodynia, and number of treated intercostal levels )are associated with response using multivariable logistic regression (p < 0.05 considered statistically significant).
The findings are expected to clarify which patient and clinical characteristics are linked to better outcomes after intercostal nerve radiofrequency and to support more individualized decision-making in the management of intercostal neuralgia.
Study design
- Observational model
- Cohort
- Time perspective
- Retrospective
- Number of arms
- 1
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Intercostal Nerve Radiofrequency Cohort | – | Procedure: Intercostal Nerve Conventional Radiofrequency Ablation (CRF), Procedure: Intercostal Nerve Pulsed Radiofrequency (PRF)Adults with intercostal neuralgia who underwent ultrasound-guided intercostal nerve radiofrequency treatment (conventional or pulsed) as part of routine clinical care. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
- Study population
- Adults (≥18 years) with intercostal neuralgia who underwent ultrasound-guided intercostal nerve radiofrequency treatment (conventional or pulsed) in routine clinical care and had documented baseline and at least 6-month follow-up NRS-11 pain scores.
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Age ≥ 18 years.
- Diagnosis of intercostal neuralgia (post-traumatic, postherpetic, or idiopathic) with thoracic neuropathic pain for at least 1 month
- Underwent ultrasound-guided intercostal nerve radiofrequency treatment (conventional radiofrequency ablation [CRF] or pulsed radiofrequency [PRF]) as part of routine clinical care
- Documented baseline NRS-11 pain score prior to the procedure and follow-up NRS-11 data available through at least 6 months after treatment.
Key exclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Thoracic pain attributable to malignancy-related causes (e.g., active malignant invasion, spinal metastasis) or an intrathoracic mass
- History of thoracic surgery at the corresponding thoracic dermatome level (e.g., thoracotomy or VATS)
- Prior radiofrequency treatment at the same intercostal nerve site
- Receipt of other interventional treatments targeting the intercostal nerve during the study period (e.g., cryoablation or chemical neurolysis)
- Insufficient follow-up data (less than 6 months of follow-up NRS-11 documentation).
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Intercostal Nerve Conventional Radiofrequency Ablation (CRF)Ultrasound-guided intercostal nerve lesioning at 80°C for 90 seconds following sensory stimulation. | Procedure or surgery | Intercostal Nerve Radiofrequency Cohort |
| Intercostal Nerve Pulsed Radiofrequency (PRF)Ultrasound-guided intercostal pulsed radiofrequency delivered at 42°C for 240 seconds. | Procedure or surgery | Intercostal Nerve Radiofrequency Cohort |
Primary outcome
Treatment response at 6 months (IMMPACT-defined responder rate)
Time frame: 6 months
Responder defined as ≥50% reduction or ≥4-point decrease in NRS-11 compared with baseline.
1 secondary outcome
Change in NRS-11 pain score from baseline
Time frame: Baseline, 3 months, and 6 months
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 26 Jan 2026.
- Results publication: PubMed 34162352Huang X, Ma Y, Wang W, Guo Y, Xu B, Ma K. Efficacy and safety of pulsed radiofrequency modulation of thoracic dorsal root ganglion or intercostal nerve on postherpetic neuralgia in aged patients: a retrospective study. BMC Neurol. 2021 Jun 24;21(1):233. doi: 10.1186/s12883-021-02286-6.
- Results publication: PubMed 22996865Engel AJ. Utility of intercostal nerve conventional thermal radiofrequency ablations in the injured worker after blunt trauma. Pain Physician. 2012 Sep-Oct;15(5):E711-8.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. This is a retrospective study based on de-identified patient records. No individual participant data (IPD) will be shared. Only aggregated results may be published in scientific journals.
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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.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
An observational study of Intercostal Neuralgia and Postherpetic Neuralgia ( PHN ), run by Mersin University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
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 4 inclusion and 5 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 26 Jan 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). 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?
Treatment response at 6 months (IMMPACT-defined responder rate) (time frame: 6 months). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07367152, which also lists 2 linked publications.
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 26 Jan 2026.