Clinical trial NCT01263054: Safety and Efficacy of the TransDiscal System Versus Medical Management in Treating Chronic Discogenic Low Back Pain
Official title: A Prospective, Randomized, Multi-Center, Open-Label Clinical Trial Comparing Disc Biacuplasty With Medical Management for Discogenic Lumbar Back Pain
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Back Pain
Keywords: Back Pain
Low Back Pain
Discogenic Back Pain
Lead sponsor: Halyard Health
Sponsor class: INDUSTRY
First posted: 2010-12-20
Enrollment: 67
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 21
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Primary purpose: TREATMENT

Brief summary: The primary objective of this randomized controlled trial is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the TransDiscal System (TDS) in treating discogenic pain of the lumbar spine using a modified disc biacuplasty procedure. The primary efficacy measure will be the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) at 6 months post treatment/randomization and the TransDiscal System will be compared against medical management (standard of care).

Detailed description: The intervertebral discs serve as joints between the vertebral bodies, providing both structural support and flexibility to the spinal column. Intervertebral discs do not remain structurally intact over a lifetime and degenerate as a natural part of aging. Degenerated discs do not react to stresses and forces the same as healthy discs. When too much stress is applied to a degenerated disc, tears can result. Evidence suggests that when a tear is present, sensory nerve endings can grow into the tear and transmit pain.

The TransDiscal System (TDS) is a medical device that is used in a procedure called Disc Biacuplasty and is currently available in the United States and throughout the world. The TDS enables the back of the disc to be heated to high enough temperatures to ablate the nerves inside that are transmitting pain, while maintaining low enough temperatures to prevent damage to surrounding tissues. The TDS uses two electrodes, located at the ends of two thin probes, which are placed on both sides of the back of the intervertebral disc by inserting them through the skin into the disc using x-ray guidance. Radiofrequency (RF) current flows in the disc between the two electrodes, heating the tissue in the disc to the desired temperature. The study evaluates a modified heating protocol than what is currently in clinical use which should allow for a larger area of the back of the disc to be heated.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Age ≥21 years
* Able to understand the informed consent and able to complete outcome measures
* Objective measurements indicating functional impairment related to low back pain
* Stabilized on pain medication regimen for \>2 months as defined by a \<10% change in dosage
* History of chronic low back pain (\>6 months) unresponsive to non-operative care (including physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medication, epidurals, diagnostic facet joint/medial branch blocks, and sacroiliac joint interventions as performed or deemed appropriate by the Investigator)
* Score ≥5 on the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) relating specifically to the average daily low back pain
* Back pain more prominent than leg pain which is commonly exacerbated by flexion or bending or prolonged sitting.
* Single level concordant pain reproduction present on lumbar discography in desiccated disc. Magnetic resonance Imaging (MRI) image also supports discography findings. Changes in other disc spaces in the lumbar region do not demonstrate neural compressive lesion.
* Disc height at least 50% of adjacent control disc

Exclusion Criteria:

* Evidence of compressive radiculopathy with predominant leg pain
* Evidence of nucleus pulposus herniation or free disc fragments on MRI
* Evidence of \> 2 discs dessicated based on MRI or symptomatic involvement of more than one lumbar disc levels.
* Asymptomatic disc bulges \> 5 mm at the treatment level.
* Prior lumbar surgery of any kind at the treatment level (micro-discectomies, and/or minimally invasive procedures at other levels that are not excluded)
* Prior spinal fusion below the T10 Level
* Symptoms or signs of lumbar canal stenosis at any level
* Evidence of structural abnormality at the lumbar level (except non-symptomatic spondylolysis resulting in spondylolithesis no more than Grade 1 upon flexion and extension)
* Any generalized pain or multifocal pain,conversion or multiple non-anatomical complaints
* Pending or active compensation claim, litigation or disability income remuneration (secondary gain)
* Chronic pain associated with significant psychosocial dysfunction
* Beck's Depression Index (BDI) score \>20
* Current pregnancy, recent delivery (within 3 months of consent) or the intent of becoming pregnant during the study period.
* Systemic or localized infection at the anticipated needle entry site (subject may be considered for inclusion once infection is resolved)
* Discitis
* Allergies to any medication to be used in the procedure
* Present symptomatic lumbar spinal fracture
* History of uncontrolled coagulopathy, ongoing coagulation treatment or unexplained or uncontrollable bleeding that is uncorrectable
* Progressive neurological deficits
* Within the preceding 2 years, subject has suffered from active narcotic addiction, substance abuse or alcohol abuse
* Current prescribed opioid medications equivalent to \>120 mg of morphine per 24 hours
* Uncontrolled immunosuppression (e.g. Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome \[AIDS\], cancer, diabetes, etc.)
* Body Mass Index (BMI) \>32.5 kg/m\^2
* Participating in another clinical trial/investigation 30 days prior to signing informed consent
* Negative or indeterminate lumbar discography results as assessed per International Spine Intervention Society (ISIS) guidelines
* Subject unwilling or unable to comply with follow up schedule or protocol requirements.

Primary outcomes:
measure: Change in Average Daily Pain Visual Analog Scale (VAS) Score Between Screening and Follow up.
timeFrame: Baseline and 6 months
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Percentage of Study Group Subjects With Greater Than 2 Points Decrease or 30% Drop in Average Daily Pain Related Visual Analog Scale (VAS) Score.
timeFrame: Baseline and 6 months
measure: Mean Change in Score of Short Form 36-Physical Functioning (SF36-PF) From Screening to 6 Month Follow up Visit
timeFrame: Baseline and 6 months
measure: Mean Change in Score of EuroQuol 5d Visual Analog Scale (EQ-5d VAS) Between Screening and 6 Month Follow up Visit
timeFrame: Baseline and 6 months
measure: Mean Change in Score of Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI) Between Screening and 6 Month Follow up Visit
timeFrame: Baseline and 6 months
measure: Mean Change in Score of Patient Global Impression of Change (PGIC) Between Screening and 6 Month Follow up Visit
timeFrame: Baseline and 6 months
measure: Mean Change in Score of Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) Between Screening and 6 Month Follow up Visit
timeFrame: Baseline and 6 Months
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Washington
country: United States
facility: George Washington University Hospital
state: District of Columbia
city: Orlando
country: United States
facility: Compass Research
state: Florida
city: Bloomington
country: United States
facility: Millennium Pain Center
state: Illinois
city: Silver Spring
country: United States
facility: Metro Orthopedics & Sports Therapy
state: Maryland
city: Linwood
country: United States
facility: PainCare
state: New Jersey
city: Winston-Salem
country: United States
facility: Center for Clinical Research
state: North Carolina
city: Cleveland
country: United States
facility: Cleveland Clinic
state: Ohio
city: Arlington
country: United States
facility: JPS Orthopedic & Sports Medicine
state: Texas
city: Seattle
country: United States
facility: Center for Pain Relief, University of Washington
state: Washington
Study officials:
affiliation: Halyard Health, Inc.
name: David Curd, MS
role: STUDY_DIRECTOR
References: