Effectiveness of Cervical Facet Joint Nerve Blocks

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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To demonstrate whether: i. Facet joint nerve blocks have therapeutic value beyond the duration of local anesthetic effect. ii. Adjuvant medications (Sarapin and Depo-Medrol) provide additional relief of cervical facet joint pain when used with facet joint nerve blocks. To demonstrate whether or not there are clinically significant improvements in function of patients who receive cervical facet joint nerve block with or without Sarapin and Depo-Medrol (Group II) compared to patients randomized to Group I who receive only local anesthetic blocks. To determine the adverse event profile in both groups.

Official Title
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Effectiveness of Cervical Facet Joint Nerve Blocks: A Randomized, Prospective, Double-Blind Controlled Evaluation

Conditions
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Neck Pain

Intervention / Treatment
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* Procedure: Cervical facet joint nerve blocks


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Positive for facet joint pain with comparative local anesthetic blocks Candidates are over 18 years of age Subjects with a history of chronic, function limiting neck pain of at least six months in duration Subjects who are able to give voluntary, written informed consent to participate in this investigation Subjects who, in the opinion of the Investigator, are able to understand this investigation, co-operate with the investigational procedures and are willing to return to the center for all the required post-operative follow-ups The subject has not had recent surgical procedures within the last three months. Exclusion Criteria: Negative or false-positive response to controlled comparative local anesthetic blocks Narcotic use of greater than Hydrocodone 100 mg/day, Methadone 80 mg or Morphine 100 mg, or dose equivalent Uncontrolled major Depression or uncontrolled psychiatric disorders Uncontrolled or acute medical illnesses including coagulopathy, renal insufficiency, chronic liver dysfunction, progressive neurological deficit, urinary sphincter dysfunction, infection, increased intercranial pressure, pseudotumor cerebri, intercranial tumors, unstable angina, and severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Chronic severe conditions that could interfere with the interpretations of the outcome assessments for pain and bodily function Women who are pregnant or lactating Subjects who have participated in a clinical study with an investigational product within 30 days of enrollment Patients with multiple complaints involving concomitant hip osteoarthritis, will not be amenable to study due to the overlap of pain complaints. Inability to achieve appropriate positioning and inability to understand informed consent and protocol History of adverse reaction to local anesthetic or anti-inflammatory drugs

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Double


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Active Comparator: Group 1- without steroid<br>Cervical Facet Joint Nerve block with Local Anesthetic (0.5 mL of 0.25% Bupivacaine with/without 0.5 mL of Sarapin) | Procedure: Cervical facet joint nerve blocks<br> <br> |
| Active Comparator: Group 2 - with steroid<br>Cervical Facet Joint nerve block with Local Anesthetic (0.5 mL of 0.25% Bupivacaine with/without 0.5 mL of Sarapin) and 0.15 mg of non-particulate betamethasone) | Procedure: Cervical facet joint nerve blocks<br> <br> |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) | Numeric Rating Scale (range 0-10) is represented as 0 for no pain and 10 for worst pain imaginable. | over 2 years | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Neck Disability Index (NDI) | Neck Disability Index (range 0-50) is represented as 0-4 no disability, 5-14 mild disability, 15 - 24 moderate disability, 25 - 34 severe disability and >34 (35-50) complete disability. | 2 years |