Assess the Effectiveness of Pulse RadioFrequency in Patients With Chronic Lumbar Radicular Pain

Pulsed RadioFrequency (PRF) is a relatively new technique derived from a well established and proven intervention, thermal radiofrequency (RF). Both procedures are used in the treatment of chronic pain. Unlike RF treatment, PRF does no direct damage to the nerve. During PRF treatment, electrical energy is applied with a small needle to the affected nerve using a pulsed time cycle that delivers short bursts of RF current. This study is interested in looking at the efficacy of PRF for chronic lumbar radicular pain (CLR) and to assess whether a larger scale clinical study with the same methods can be used.

Methodology and Techniques:

Patients would be screened at St Joseph-East End Pain Clinic for Chronic Lumbar Radiculopathy (CLR) of at least 4 months duration. Based on the history and clinical examination, a diagnosis of CLR involving one or more spinal segments is made and noted. The patient is considered eligible for the study if a CT or MRI of lumbar spine done within the last 4 months demonstrates pathology that is concordant with the patient's clinical symptoms. The spinal level(s) targeted for treatment will be based on clinical findings, e.g. if a patient exhibits signs and symptoms of right L4 radiculopathy, and the MRI demonstrates right paracentral disc herniations at both L4-5 and L5-S1, only the L4 DRG will be targeted.

Patients fulfilling the inclusion criteria will be fully explained about the nature of study, interventions involved and the possible complications after which an informed consent will be taken. Enrolled patients would be randomized-according to the method chosen and included in the study according to previously randomized order. He/she will also meet the ASSESSOR (blind to intervention)-who would note down the baseline parameters of the patient and also collect a baseline Oswestry Score chart, along with noting down other parameters.

A patient having bilateral radiculopathy will be treated for his most affected side in the trial. A patient having CLR of more than one segment on one side shall be treated for all the involved segments with the same technique and counted as a single procedure or intervention for the study.

All OR (operating room) personnel, including the physician performing intervention and patient shall be blind to the randomization and treatment. The grouping code, hence the actual treatment will only be known by the person operating the RF machine.

Only the RF technician shall be in view of the working details of the RF machine and the noise of the machine is cut off. This ensures blinding of all involved except the RF technician. After checking for informed consent and other safety checklist, patient will only be revealed as belonging to group A or B.

All interventions will be done as day care procedures in the OR. Patients would continue to use their medications as before. If the pain relief obtained necessitates decrease in the usage of medications that shall be recorded. Similarly unsatisfactory pain relief obtained necessitating increase in the dose or change of medications shall be recorded. The other parameters to be used for statistical analysis are collected as mentioned in the data analysis paragraph.

The patient will have an established IV access. He would be put in prone position. The involved area of back would be made sterile using chlorohexidine 2% and draped. The patient would be connected to continuous monitoring of 3 lead ECG, NIBP (Non-Invasive Blood Pressure) and pulse oximetry. Sedation, if used will be minimal (Grade I or II) to obtain the necessary response of the patient. Under fluoroscopy guidance- particular spinal segment(s) affected is (are) identified and confirmed. LA using 2% lidocaine is infiltrated to the skin at entry site. For both groups a RF needle (Bayliss: 22-G needle, 5-mm curved active tip and 10 cm) is used. With an appropriate fluoroscopy view needle is inserted to the target location in both the groups.

Target location: the DRG which is an enlargement formed by the dorsal nerve root just proximal to its junction with the spinal nerve lies within the dural sleeve and occupies the upper, medial part of the intervertebral foramen (22). It is confirmed with an anteroposterior fluoroscopy view in which it is advanced, if required, until the tip is located one-third to halfway into the pedicle column (18).

Target Confirmation (Malik et al): Appropriate fluoroscopic placement of needle-near DRG at the lumbar area is noted; on anteroposterior x-ray projection, the DRG is described to lie immediately behind the lateral aspect of the facet column at all spinal levels and on lateral x-ray projection, it is localized to the dorsocranial quadrant of the IVF (intervertebral foramen) Proximity of the needle to the DRG is determined by appropriate sensory stimulation with 50 Hz, at more than 0.4 V (avoids intraganglionic placement) and less than or equal to 0.6 V; motor stimulation at 2 Hz with threshold 1.5-2 times greater than sensory threshold to avoid placement near the anterior nerve root. A radiculogram done also confirms the appropriate placement and helps recognise intradural placement of the needle.

Both the groups will have their respective DRG stimulated for sensory confirmation.

Treatment: Once positioned the physician shall indicate to the RF technician as "treatment" only, at which time either PRF or placebo (only continuing sensory stimulation at a low frequency is applied), without revealing.

Application of Intervention: In Group A-PRF; PRF would be applied for 120 seconds at 42 degree centigrade. Group B-placebo; the needle would be continuously stimulated at a low voltage to give a sensation of PRF application and also to obtain the necessary noise to blind the patients.

Only lidocaine 1% 0.5 ml shall be given in both groups before carrying out the treatment.

In both groups the same procedure is done at all the involved spinal segmental levels. After the procedure the patient is shifted to recovery area to be monitored, observed and managed for any side effects. The observer, blind to the interventions, will record the pain scores and also check for side effects observed before the patient is discharged home.

Blinding and Bias control In our study we plan to blind the patient, the treating physician and the assessor for the actual intervention being done. The randomization code, hence the actual treatment will only be known and administered by the person operating the RF machine. The randomization will be concealed in sealed envelopes

Blinding of patients will be achieved by:

Randomization: Patients will be randomly allocated to each group using a 1:1 ratio. The allocation will be blocked using block sizes of 2, 4, 6.

Both interventions will be similarly, including the use of fluoroscopy. Both interventions will be done using the same kind of needle and technique of stimulation.

Patients belonging to placebo group will have a continuous low voltage stimulation to mask the effect of "no intervention".

Blinding of assessor will be achieved by:

Will not know the randomization order, Will not be present during the intervention, Will not be able to access any written or dictated notes regarding the intervention.

Blinding of the treating Physician will be achieved by:

Will not know the randomization order or grouping of patients, Will not be revealed the treatment applied.

Duration of treatment period Treatment intervention period will involve approximately 30 mins to 60 mins of actual intervention done in the OR.

Duration and Frequency of follow up The duration of follow up will be 3 months after the intervention. The frequency of follow up will be as follows,

The patient would be assessed post-intervention on the following days:

1. 30 minutes post-procedure in recovery
2. 24 hrs after-by a phone call (only VAS and side effects)
3. At 1 week post-procedure-Visit to Observer (VAS, ODI, medications, side effects)
4. At 4 weeks post-procedure-Visit to Observer -assessment for success (VAS, ODI, medications, side effects).
5. At 2 months post-procedure-Visit to Observer (VAS, ODI, medications, side effects)
6. At 3 months post -procedure-Visit to Observer-last follow up visit (VAS, ODI, medications, side effects)

Sample Size, Recruitment Rate:

Sample size has been determined based on feasibility considerations. Total duration of recruitment planned is 8 months The proposed target is recruitment for 8 months, with an expectation of 4 patients/month, making a total of 32 patients for the study.

Potential to recruit patients, as 4 patients every month has been calculated based on the TransForaminal Steroid Injections (TFESI) performed in the last 3-6 months and also booked for the next 3-6 months (calculated as monthly) at St Joseph's Healthcare; data obtained from St Joseph's Healthcare Department of Anesthesia and Pain Dept Secretary Office.

TFESI represents a well accepted, presently performed intervention for patients of CLR and most patients suitable for that are potential recruits for this study.

Statistical Tests The Characteristics of the trial participants will be described using mean (standard deviation) or counts as appropriate. We will use a flow diagram to summarize the flow of patients in the trial.

Feasibility outcomes will be reported as counts (proportions).

Duration of The Trial The proposed study would only recruit patients for 8 months and compare with the expected estimation of the recruitment.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* \> 18 years of age
* CLR for at least 4 months of more, with concordant findings on either MRI and CT scan
* VAS score of at least 60/100 at presentation
* informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

* \< 18 years of age
* patient refusal
* any contraindication to neuraxial injection such as coagulation disturbance, anticoagulant therapy, bleeding disorder, or infection at site of injection
* anatomical deformity or derangement, either congenital or surgical such as: extreme scoliosis, previous implant or instrumentation making it difficult to access the foramen as evidence by MRI, CT, or plain x-rays
* uncontrolled diabetes or severe coronary vascular disease necessitating continuation of anticoagulation therapy
* known history of psychiatric illness-such as depression or psychosis
* presence of cancer accounting for present symptoms
* patient's inability of communicate in English and inability to understand and fill out the required follow-up questionnaire and form
* allergy to local anesthetics or steroid or contrast medium
* any patient with a history of acute neurological weakness or neurodeficit in the affected limb in terms of measurable motor weakness or abnormal reflexes