Safety of Spine Radiofrequency Procedures

June 27, 2017 updated by: Tim J. Lamer, M.D., Mayo Clinic

Safety of Lumbar Spine Radiofrequency Procedures in the Presence of Posterior Pedicle Screws: A Prospective Trial

The goal of the study was to determine if patients undergoing radiofrequency neurotomy (RFN) of lumbar facet joints that are adjacent to previously placed pedicle screws from a fusion, would lead to an increase in the temperature of the pedicle screws.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

This study was a prospective clinical trial, examining outcomes related to temperature increases in pedicle screws. It was not possible to blind the investigators or the patient. Outcomes related temperature differences were collected at each pedicle screw adjacent to a zygapophyseal joint being treated.

A conventional 18-gauge, 1-cm curved active tip radiofrequency cannula was placed under fluoroscopic guidance to the area to be treated (the junction of the transverse process and the superior articulating process of the facet joint). This position placed the tip of the radiofrequency cannula immediately adjacent to, but not in direct contact with, the pedicle screws. The radiofrequency cannula was connected to a radiofrequency generator, and the conventional settings for clinical medial branch neurotomy was used, heating the tissue to 80°C for 90 seconds. The procedure described up to this point is the normal procedure and protocol for RFN performed at the Mayo Clinic.

The experimental portion of the procedure is as follows: A separate 22 gauge radiofrequency cannula was intentionally placed in direct contact with the dorsal surface of the pedicle screws and was connected to a radiofrequency generator solely for the purpose of measuring temperature, as the RF cannula are dual purpose probes capable of both conducting energy for the radiofrequency lesion and monitoring tissue temperature. In other words, this small gauge needle was placed for the sole purpose of acting as a thermistor probe/temperature monitor. This process was repeated for each level necessary for treatment.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

6

Phase

  • Not Applicable

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

  • United States
    • Minnesota
      • Rochester, Minnesota, United States, 55902
        • Mayo Clinic

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

18 years to 100 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

- Scheduled for Radiofrequency procedure AND has spinal hardware placed from a previous spinal surgery

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Active infection over skin where needle will be placed
  • Coagulopathy
  • Pregnancy

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: Screening
  • Allocation: N/A
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Radiofrequency neurotomy subjects
Subjects with spinal hardware that are undergoing radiofrequency ablation procedures will have an additional radiofrequency cannula placed at the site of adjacent pedicle screws for temperature measurement only.
Device: Radiofrequency cannula
Subjects with spinal hardware that are undergoing radiofrequency ablation procedures will have an additional radiofrequency cannula placed at the site of adjacent pedicle screws for temperature measurement only.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Number of Procedures in Which Temperature of Screws Increased
Time Frame: 2 hours
The study will measure for increased temperature in pedicle screws adjacent to lumbar facet joints during radiofrequency neurotomy (RFN). Temperatures will be recorded by placing a thermistor probe on the surface of the adjacent hardware.
2 hours

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Mayo Clinic

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Tim J Lamer, MD, Mayo Clinic

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

September 1, 2014

Primary Completion (Actual)

December 1, 2015

Study Completion (Actual)

December 1, 2015

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

August 4, 2014

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

August 4, 2014

First Posted (Estimate)

August 6, 2014

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

July 26, 2017

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 27, 2017

Last Verified

June 1, 2017

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 14-003619

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

No

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.

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