Pain Exposure Physical Therapy (PEPT) Versus CBO in Patients With Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Type I (CRPS-1) (PEPTOC)

July 23, 2013 updated by: Jan Paul Frolke, Radboud University Medical Center

Pain Exposure Physical Therapy Or Conservative Therapy for Patients With Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Type I

The current Dutch CBO guideline treatment of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Type I (CRPS-1) is very disappointing with chronification, disability and subsequent high medical costs and personal suffering. A possible better treatment is intensive function-oriented physical therapy or Pain Exposure in Physical Therapy (PEPT). However, there are no adequate studies performed that demonstrate the efficacy of PEPT and therefore PEPT is lacking in the Dutch CBO CRPS-1 guidelines. Despite a lacking scientific argumentation, the PEPT approach or Macedonian therapy, is now being adopted on a large scale among physical therapists in The Netherlands. There are two level C retrospective cohort studies demonstrating a promising and clinical relevant beneficial effect on pain and function after PEPT. In response to the growing demand for scientific argumentation among doctors and physical therapists with respect to the efficacy of PEPT, we conducted a pilot study at the UMC St Radboud Nijmegen. The results of this pilot study were very promising and therefore, we decided to design a large RCT to investigate the treatment effects and costs in CRPS patients treated with PEPT compared to CRPS patients treated with usual therapy according to the Dutch CBO guidelines.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Hypothesis:

PEPT is expected to be 30% more effective and around three-folds cheaper than usual therapy (CBO)

Objective:

The current Dutch CBO guideline treatment of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Type I (CRPS-1) is very disappointing with chronification, disability and subsequent high medical costs and personal suffering. A possible better treatment is intensive function-oriented physical therapy or Pain Exposure in Physical Therapy (PEPT). However, there are no adequate studies performed that demonstrate the efficacy of PEPT and therefore PEPT is lacking in the Dutch CBO CRPS-1 guidelines. Despite a lacking scientific argumentation, the PEPT approach or Macedonian therapy, is now being adopted on a large scale among physical therapists in The Netherlands. There are two level C retrospective cohort studies demonstrating a promising and clinical relevant beneficial effect on pain and function after PEPT. In response to the growing demand for scientific argumentation among doctors and physical therapists with respect to the efficacy of PEPT, we conducted a pilot study at the UMC St Radboud Nijmegen. The results of this pilot study were very promising and therefore, we decided to design a large RCT to investigate the treatment effects and costs in CRPS patients treated with PEPT compared to CRPS patients treated with usual therapy according to the Dutch CBO guidelines.

Study design:

Prospective, single-blinded, randomized clinical trial. After base-line measurements (T0), measurements are performed at three (T1) and six months (T2) after inclusion. Follow-up is at nine months (T3).

Study population:

Patients with Complex Regional pain Syndrome (CRPS-1) of either upper or lower extremity according to Bruehl's/IASP criteria (see attachment) between 3 and 24 months after initial injury will be selected for the study. After information about standard and experimental treatments for CRPS and after informed consent, patients will enter the study and randomization for usual (CBO) or experimental (PEPT) treatment will be performed.

Intervention:

Treatment group: In the treatment group medication prescribed for CRPS is tapered to zero. No invasive treatments like sympathetic blocks, and/or operations will be performed. After information about the mechanism of action of PEPT in relation to CRPS, patients receive five sessions of PEPT including homework exercises. The basic of PEPT is a function-oriented exercise therapy. The PEPT physical therapist manipulates restricted joints and intensively trains functional skills irrespective of pain experience during or after the therapy. Patients are stimulated to use an active coping style to achieve a clear functional goal in 5 sessions.

Control group: Usual treatment of CRPS according to the Dutch CBO CRPS guideline 2006 including, analgesics (WHO pain ladder), neuropathic drugs, N-acetylcysteine, calcium channel blocker, ketanserin and DMSO (dimethylsulphoxide). On indication, percutaneous sympathetic blocks or spinal cord stimulation will be performed. In addition, patients receive physical therapy with exercises within pain limits (pain contingent), splints and if necessary, aids for ADL activities.

Outcome measures:

Primary outcome measure is the Impairment level SumScore (ISS), which consists of three measurement parameters (pain, active range of motion and temperature) and four measurement instruments (VAS, McGill Pain Questionnaire, goniometry of mobility of joints and skin thermometer). A cost-effectiveness analysis from a societal perspective comparing PEPT to usual care in patients with CRPS will be performed. This will be done along-side the clinical trial.

Sample size calculation/data analysis:

The sample size calculation is based on the following finding and expectation. The improvement in ISS (primary outcome) over one year for the standard physical therapy group was 50% [Oerlemans, APMR 2000], for the PEPT group it is estimated at minimal 70-80%. Given an alpha of 0,05 and a power of 80% for a one sided Chi-square test 31 patients are needed per group. The Student T- test is used to calculate differences between both groups in mean ISS.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

62

Phase

  • Phase 2
  • Phase 3

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Netherlands
      • Nijmegen, Netherlands, 6525 GA
        • Radboud University Medical Center

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

16 years to 78 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

Patients between 18 and 80 years of age with Complex Regional pain Syndrome (CRPS-1) of either upper or lower extremity according to Bruehl's/IASP criteria between 3 and 24 months after initial injury will be selected for the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

Patients who do not comply with the inclusion criteria especially those who have other causes that may explain a pain syndrome will be excluded (IASP criterium)

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: 1
PEPT after randomization
Procedure: PEPT
Pain Exposure Physical Therapy
Experimental: 2
CBO after randomization
Procedure: CBO standard
Standard therapy as defined in CBO guideline 2006

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Time Frame
Primary outcome measure is the Impairment level SumScore (ISS): pain, active range of motion and temperature, measured with VAS, McGill Pain Questionnaire, goniometry of mobility of joints and skin thermometer
Time Frame: t=0; t= 3 months; t= 6 months; t= 9 months
t=0; t= 3 months; t= 6 months; t= 9 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Time Frame
DASH; FABQ; SF36; mycrofet dynamometer; RSQ; 10 meter walking test and the timed up-and-go-test; Adherence behavior; Seven Days PAR; IPAQ; PCS; PDI; PAM; Economic evaluation with diary; EuroQol 5D; adverse reactions SAE forms
Time Frame: t=0; t=3 months; t= 6 months; t= 9 months
t=0; t=3 months; t= 6 months; t= 9 months

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Radboud University Medical Center

Collaborators

ZonMw: The Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Jan Paul Frölke, MD; PhD, Radboud University Medical Center

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

January 1, 2009

Primary Completion (Actual)

March 1, 2012

Study Completion (Actual)

July 1, 2012

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

January 5, 2009

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

January 5, 2009

First Posted (Estimate)

January 6, 2009

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

July 24, 2013

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 23, 2013

Last Verified

July 1, 2013

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 170991004
  • ZonMw 1709901004 (Other Grant/Funding Number: ZonMw 1709901004)

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

Clinical Trials on Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, Type I

Search Similar Trials

Sponsors and Collaborators

Medical Conditions

Drug Interventions

CROs by country

CROs in Benin

Conditions

Rare Diseases

Drug Interventions

Dietary Supplements

Sponsor/Collaborators

Locations

3
Subscribe