Cooled Radiofrequency vs. Hyaluronic Acid to Manage Knee Pain

A Prospective, Multi-center, Randomized, Clinical Trial Evaluating the Safety and Effectiveness of Using COOLIEF™ Cooled Radiofrequency Probe to Create Lesions of the Genicular Nerves and Comparing a Single Injection of Hyaluronic Acid in the Management of Knee Pain

This is a prospective, randomized, multicenter comparison study examining the outcomes of subjects with osteoarthritis and knee pain undergoing a procedure to create a radiofrequency lesion of the genicular nerves with the Cooled Radiofrequency Ablation (CRFA) system compared to subjects receiving Hyaluronic Acid (HA). Approximately 168 subjects will be enrolled into this study, with subjects undergoing either CRFA or HA injection in a 1:1 randomization scheme. Follow-up will be conducted for 12 months post-CRFA, with the primary endpoint being completed at month 6. Subjects randomized to the comparison (HA) group will have the option to cross-over to the neurotomy group after completing the 6-month endpoint assessment. They will be followed for an additional 6 months. Pain, overall outcome, quality of life, pain medication use, and adverse events will be compared between the two treatment groups to determine success. Subjects who were randomized to and received COOLIEF* as their initial treatment will have the option to add 2 additional visits at 6-month intervals, representing 18 and 24 months post initial treatment.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Osteoarthritis of the Knee
• Intervention / Treatment: Device: Cooled Radiofrequency; Other: Hyaluronic Acid Injection; Other: Crossover from Hyaluronic Acid Injection to Cooled Radiofrequency

Detailed Description

The COOLIEF™ system components utilized in the study are the same in form and function regardless of specific product branding (COOLIEF* or SInergy*). The COOLIEF™ system is comprised of three primary components (collectively known as 'disposables') and is used in conjunction with the Pain Management generator, pump unit, connector cables (collectively known as 'Hardware') and dispersive electrodes (also known as 'grounding pads'):

• Cooled Radiofrequency Sterile Tube Kit (sterile, single use, non-body contact): It is used for closed-loop circulation of sterile water through a Halyard Health* Cooled Radiofrequency Probe. It includes a burette and tubing.
• Cooled Radiofrequency Introducer (sterile, single use): It is to be used with the Probes only. The Cooled Radiofrequency Introducer provides a path for the Probe to the targeted nervous tissue.
• Cooled Radiofrequency Probe (sterile, single use): It is inserted through an Introducer into or near nervous tissue. The active tip extends 4mm from the introducer and delivers energy. Sterile water circulates internally to cool the Probe while it delivers radiofrequency energy. A thermocouple in the Probe measures the cooled electrode temperature throughout the procedure.

The product is comprised of an electrically insulated shaft with an active tip that functions as an electrode for radiofrequency energy delivery, a handle, tubes with luer locks and a cable with a 7-pin connector. The Introducer includes an insulated stainless steel cannula and a stylet. The Tube Kit is comprised of a burette and flexible tubing fitted with luer locks for connection to the Probe. The Probe, Introducer, and Tube Kit are ethylene oxide sterilized and supplied sterile. These components can be packaged together in a kit or as separate components. The devices should be stored in a cool, dry environment. The Instructions For Use (IFU) documents (Appendix 1) are included in each kit.

Halyard Health maintains a list of all model numbers and sizes for the system components.

The control product/device, Synvisc-One® (hylan G-F 20) (HA), is an elastoviscous high molecular weight fluid containing hylan A and hylan B polymers produced from chicken combs. Hylans are derivatives of hyaluronan (sodium hyaluronate). Hylan G-F 20 is unique in that the hyaluronan is chemically crosslinked. Hyaluronan is a long-chain polymer containing repeating disaccharide units of Na-glucuronate-N-acetylglucosamine.

Synvisc-One is a single injection regimen therapy indicated for the treatment of pain in Osteoarthritis of the knee in patients who have failed to respond adequately to conservative nonpharmacologic therapy and simple analgesics, e.g., acetaminophen.

Following treatment, subjects in the CRF treatment group will follow up at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months. These subjects will then have the option to return for two additional visits at 18 and 24 months. Subjects initially randomized to the comparison (HA) group will follow up at 1, 3, and 6 months, and then be given the option to receive crossover CRF treatment. If crossover CRF treatment was received, subjects will return for follow up visits at 1, 3, and 6 months post-treatment. If crossover treatment was not received, subjects will return for their final 12 month visit.

Study Duration:

• Treatment Group: Up to 24 months following index procedure
• Control Group: Up to 13 months, depending upon receipt of cross-over procedure.

Effectiveness Endpoints:

• Numeric Rating Scale (NRS, Usual Level of Pain)
• Western Ontario & McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC)
• EQ-5D-5L Health-Related Quality of Life Questionnaire
• Global Perceived Effect Scale

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 177
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Idaho
    • Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, United States, 83814
      • Lyman Medical Research
  • Louisiana
    • New Orleans, Louisiana, United States, 70115
      • Ocshner Baptist Clinical Trials Unit
  • Minnesota
    • Rochester, Minnesota, United States, 55905
      • Mayo Clinic
  • Oklahoma
    • Edmond, Oklahoma, United States, 73013
      • Clinical Investigations, LLC
  • Pennsylvania
    • Altoona, Pennsylvania, United States, 16602
      • University Orthopedics Center
    • Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, 19104
      • University of Pennsylvania
    • State College, Pennsylvania, United States, 16801
      • University Orthopedics Center
  • South Carolina
    • Anderson, South Carolina, United States, 29621
      • Piedmont Comprehensive Pain Management
  • Virginia
    • Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, 22908
      • University of Virginia
    • Richmond, Virginia, United States, 23235
      • Virginia iSpine Physicians

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 19 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

INCLUSION CRITERIA

1. Age ≥ 21 years
2. Able to understand the informed consent form and provide written informed consent and able to complete outcome measures
3. Chronic knee pain for longer than 6 months that interferes with functional activities (for example, ambulation, prolonged standing, etc.)
4. Continued pain in the target knee despite at least 3 months of conservative treatments, including activity modification, home exercise, protective weight bearing, and/or analgesics (for example, acetaminophen or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs [NSAIDs])
5. Positive response (defined as a decrease in numeric pain scores of at least 50%) to a single genicular nerve block of the index knee
6. Pain on NRS ≥ 6 on an 11-point scale for the index knee
7. Radiologic confirmation of arthritis (x-ray/MRI/CT) of Osteoarthritis (OA) grade of 2 (mild), 3 (moderate) or 4 (severe) noted within 6 months for the index knee
8. An intra-articular hyaluronic acid injection is indicated as an appropriate treatment option
9. WOMAC Knee Score group at baseline of Score of ≥ 2 (0 to 4 scale) on WOMAC question 1 (Pain) and a mean score of ≥ 1.5 on all five questions of the WOMAC pain subscale.
10. Analgesics including membrane stabilizers such as Neurontin/gabapentin and antidepressants for pain such as Cymbalta/duloxetine must be clinically stable (defined as stable dosage for ≥ 6 weeks prior to the screening visit) and shall not change during the course of the study without approval of the investigator
11. Agree to see one physician (study physician) for knee pain during the study period
12. Willing to utilize double barrier contraceptive method if of child bearing potential.
13. Willing to delay any surgical intervention for the index knee for the period of the study follow up
14. Willingness to provide informed consent and to comply with the requirements of this protocol for the full duration of the study

EXCLUSION CRITERIA

1. Evidence of inflammatory arthritis (for example, rheumatoid arthritis) or other systemic inflammatory condition (for example, gout, fibromyalgia) that could cause knee pain
2. Evidence of neuropathic pain affecting the index knee
3. Previous or pending lower limb amputation
4. Intra-articular steroid injection into the index knee within 90 days from randomization
5. Hyaluronic acid injection, platelet rich plasma (PRP), stem cell, or arthroscopic debridement/lavage injection into the index knee within 180 days from randomization
6. Prior radiofrequency ablation of the genicular nerves of the index knee
7. Prior partial, resurfacing, or total knee arthroplasty of the index knee (residual hardware)
8. Clinically significant ligamentous laxity of the index knee
9. Clinically significant valgus/varus deformities or evidence of pathology (other than osteoarthritis of knee) that materially affects gait or function of the knee or is the underlying cause of the knee pain and/or functional limitations
10. Body mass index (BMI) > 40 kg/m2
11. Extremely thin patients and those with minimal subcutaneous tissue thickness that would not accommodate a radiofrequency lesion of up to 14 mm in diameter to limit the risk of skin burns
12. Pending or active compensation claim, litigation or disability remuneration (secondary gain)
13. Pregnant, nursing or intent on becoming pregnant during the study period
14. Chronic pain associated with significant psychosocial dysfunction
15. Beck's Depression Index score of > 22 (indicates clinically depressed state)
16. Allergies to any of the medications to be used during the procedures, including known hypersensitivity (allergy) to hyaluronate preparations or allergies to avian or avian-derived products (including eggs, feathers, or poultry)
17. Active joint infection or systemic or localized infection at needle entry sites (subject may be considered for inclusion once infection is resolved)
18. History of uncontrolled coagulopathy, ongoing coagulation treatment that cannot be safely interrupted for procedure, or unexplained or uncontrollable bleeding that is uncorrectable.
19. Identifiable anatomical variability that would materially alter the procedure as described in the protocol
20. Within the preceding 2 years, subject has suffered from active narcotic addiction, substance, or alcohol abuse
21. Current prescribed opioid medications greater than 60 morphine equivalent daily opioid dose
22. Uncontrolled immunosuppression (e.g. AIDS, cancer, diabetes, etc.)
23. Subject currently implanted with pacemaker, stimulator or defibrillator.
24. Participating in another clinical trial/investigation within 30 days prior to signing informed consent
25. Subject unwilling or unable to comply with follow up schedule or protocol requirements

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Cooled Radiofrequency; Cooled radiofrequency energy will be delivered to study subjects' knees to ablate culprit sensory nerves and reduce knee pain. Subjects in this group will be followed for 12 months post-procedure.	Device: Cooled Radiofrequency; Delivery of energy to ablate sensory nerves via cooled radiofrequency probe.; Other Names: Coolief
Active Comparator: Hyaluronic Acid, then Cooled Radiofrequency; Hyaluronic acid injections will be administered to study subjects' knees to reduce knee pain. Subjects in this group will have the option to crossover to receive cooled radiofrequency after 6-months. Crossover subjects will be followed for an additional 6 months post-procedure. Non-crossover subjects will continue to be followed until the 12-month timepoint.	Other: Hyaluronic Acid Injection; Delivery of hyaluronic acid into knee by injection with needle to reduce knee pain.; Other Names: Viscosupplementation; Other: Crossover from Hyaluronic Acid Injection to Cooled Radiofrequency; Delivery of hyaluronic acid into knee by injection with needle to reduce knee pain. After 6 months, qualifying subjects in this group will have the option to crossover to receive cooled radiofrequency treatment.; Other Names: Viscosupplementation; Cooled Radiofrequency

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Numeric Rating Scale (NRS)	The proportion of subjects whose knee pain is reduced by ≥ 50% based on the NRS. The NRS is an 11-point scale (0 points to 10 points), where 0 points equals "no pain" and 10 points equals the "worst pain". There are no sub-scales.	Baseline to 6 month study visit
Safety: The Proportion of Subjects Experiencing Adverse Events Through Final Follow up.	Safety: The proportion of subjects experiencing adverse events through final follow up.	Baseline to 12 month study visit

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Numeric Rating Scale	The proportion of subjects whose knee pain is reduced from baseline by ≥ 50% based on the NRS. The NRS is an 11-point scale (0 points to 10 points), where 0 points equals "no pain" and 10 points equals the "worst pain". There are no sub-scales.	Baseline (or date of crossover for Crossover group subjects) to 12 month study visit
Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC)	The change in WOMAC score from baseline to 6 months. This outcome instrument is composed of three sub-scales, including "Pain" (5 questions), "Stiffness" (2 questions), and "Physical Function" (17 questions). The point range for each sub-scale question is from 0 to 4, with "0" indicating the best study subject condition and "4" indicating the worst study subject condition. Thus, the minimum score per sub-scale is 0, and the maximum is 20, 8, and 68 for "Pain", Stiffness", and "Physical Function", respectively. The minimum and maximum possible scores for the entire instrument are 0 (best study subject condition) and 96 (worst study subject condition).	Baseline to 6 month study visit
Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC)	The change in WOMAC score from baseline to 12 months. This outcome instrument is composed of three sub-scales, including "Pain" (5 questions), "Stiffness" (2 questions), and "Physical Function" (17 questions). The point range for each sub-scale question is from 0 to 4, with "0" indicating the best study subject condition and "4" indicating the worst study subject condition. Thus, the minimum score per sub-scale is 0, and the maximum is 20, 8, and 68 for "Pain", Stiffness", and "Physical Function", respectively. The minimum and maximum possible scores for the entire instrument are 0 (best study subject condition) and 96 (worst study subject condition).	Baseline (or date of crossover for Crossover group subjects) to 12 month study visit

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
EQ-5D-5L	The change in measured EQ-5D-5L scale from baseline to 6 months. This outcome instrument is composed of five sub-scales containing five questions each. The point range for each sub-scale is from 1 to 5, with "1" indicating the best study subject condition and "5" indicating the worst study subject condition. Thus, the minimum and maximum scores per sub-scale are 1 and 5, respectively, and such scores for the entire instrument are 5 (best study subject condition) and 25 (worst study subject condition). The sub-scale topics are: Mobility, Self-Care, Usual Activities, Pain/Discomfort, and Anxiety/Depression.	Baseline to 6 month study visit
EQ-5D-5L	The change in measured EQ-5D-5L scale from baseline to 12 months. This outcome instrument is composed of five sub-scales containing five questions each. The point range for each sub-scale is from 1 to 5, with "1" indicating the best study subject condition and "5" indicating the worst study subject condition. Thus, the minimum and maximum scores per sub-scale are 1 and 5, respectively, and such scores for the entire instrument are 5 (best study subject condition) and 25 (worst study subject condition). The sub-scale topics are: Mobility, Self-Care, Usual Activities, Pain/Discomfort, and Anxiety/Depression.	Baseline (or date of crossover for Crossover group subjects) to 12 month study visit
Global Perceived Effect	Number of participants with improvement measured by the Global Perceived Effect scale. The Global Perceived Effect is a 7-point scale: 1 point = "worst ever", 2 points = "much worse", 3 points = "worse", 4 points = "not improved but not worse", 5 points = "improved", 6 points = "much improved", 7 points = "best ever". There are no sub-scales. Number of participants scoring at either 5, 6, or 7 points on the Global Perceived Effect scale are reported.	Baseline to 6 month study visit
Global Perceived Effect	Number of participants with improvement measured by the Global Perceived Effect scale. The Global Perceived Effect is a 7-point scale: 1 point = "worst ever", 2 points = "much worse", 3 points = "worse", 4 points = "not improved but not worse", 5 points = "improved", 6 points = "much improved", 7 points = "best ever". There are no sub-scales. Number of participants scoring at either 5, 6, or 7 points on the Global Perceived Effect scale are reported.	Baseline (or date of crossover for Crossover group subjects) to 12 month study visit
Numeric Rating Scale	The proportion of subjects whose knee pain is reduced from baseline by ≥ 50% based on the NRS. The NRS is an 11-point scale (0 points to 10 points), where 0 points equals "no pain" and 10 points equals the "worst pain". There are no sub-scales.	Baseline to 18 month study visit
Numeric Rating Scale	The proportion of subjects whose knee pain is reduced from baseline by ≥ 50% based on the NRS. The NRS is an 11-point scale (0 points to 10 points), where 0 points equals "no pain" and 10 points equals the "worst pain". There are no sub-scales.	Baseline to 24 month study visit
Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC)	The change in WOMAC score from baseline to 18 months. This outcome instrument is composed of three sub-scales, including "Pain" (5 questions), "Stiffness" (2 questions), and "Physical Function" (17 questions). The point range for each sub-scale question is from 0 to 4, with "0" indicating the best study subject condition and "4" indicating the worst study subject condition. Thus, the minimum score per sub-scale is 0, and the maximum is 20, 8, and 68 for "Pain", Stiffness", and "Physical Function", respectively. The minimum and maximum possible scores for the entire instrument are 0 (best study subject condition) and 96 (worst study subject condition).	Baseline to 18 month study visit
Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC)	The change in WOMAC score from baseline to 24 months. This outcome instrument is composed of three sub-scales, including "Pain" (5 questions), "Stiffness" (2 questions), and "Physical Function" (17 questions). The point range for each sub-scale question is from 0 to 4, with "0" indicating the best study subject condition and "4" indicating the worst study subject condition. Thus, the minimum score per sub-scale is 0, and the maximum is 20, 8, and 68 for "Pain", Stiffness", and "Physical Function", respectively. The minimum and maximum possible scores for the entire instrument are 0 (best study subject condition) and 96 (worst study subject condition).	Baseline to 24 month study visit
EQ-5D-5L	The change in measured EQ-5D-5L scale from baseline to 18 months. This outcome instrument is composed of five sub-scales containing five questions each. The point range for each sub-scale is from 1 to 5, with "1" indicating the best study subject condition and "5" indicating the worst study subject condition. Thus, the minimum and maximum scores per sub-scale are 1 and 5, respectively, and such scores for the entire instrument are 5 (best study subject condition) and 25 (worst study subject condition). The sub-scale topics are: Mobility, Self-Care, Usual Activities, Pain/Discomfort, and Anxiety/Depression.	Baseline to 18 month study visit
EQ-5D-5L	The change in measured EQ-5D-5L scale from baseline to 24 months. This outcome instrument is composed of five sub-scales containing five questions each. The point range for each sub-scale is from 1 to 5, with "1" indicating the best study subject condition and "5" indicating the worst study subject condition. Thus, the minimum and maximum scores per sub-scale are 1 and 5, respectively, and such scores for the entire instrument are 5 (best study subject condition) and 25 (worst study subject condition). The sub-scale topics are: Mobility, Self-Care, Usual Activities, Pain/Discomfort, and Anxiety/Depression.	Baseline to 24 month study visit
Global Perceived Effect	Number of participants with improvement measured by the Global Perceived Effect scale. The Global Perceived Effect is a 7-point scale: 1 point = "worst ever", 2 points = "much worse", 3 points = "worse", 4 points = "not improved but not worse", 5 points = "improved", 6 points = "much improved", 7 points = "best ever". There are no sub-scales. Number of participants scoring at either 5, 6, or 7 points on the Global Perceived Effect scale are reported.	Baseline to 18 month study visit
Global Perceived Effect	Number of participants with improvement measured by the Global Perceived Effect scale. The Global Perceived Effect is a 7-point scale: 1 point = "worst ever", 2 points = "much worse", 3 points = "worse", 4 points = "not improved but not worse", 5 points = "improved", 6 points = "much improved", 7 points = "best ever". There are no sub-scales. Number of participants scoring at either 5, 6, or 7 points on the Global Perceived Effect scale are reported.	Baseline to 24 month study visit
Safety: The Proportion of Subjects Experiencing Adverse Events Between 12 - 24 Months (Extension)	Safety: The proportion of subjects experiencing adverse events between 12 - 24 months (Extension)	12 month study visit to 24 month study visit

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Avanos Medical
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Antonia F Chen, MD, Brigham and Women's Hospital

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Chen AF, Khalouf F, Zora K, DePalma M, Kohan L, Guirguis M, Beall D, Loudermilk E, Pingree MJ, Badiola I, Lyman J. Cooled radiofrequency ablation provides extended clinical utility in the management of knee osteoarthritis: 12-month results from a prospective, multi-center, randomized, cross-over trial comparing cooled radiofrequency ablation to a single hyaluronic acid injection. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2020 Jun 9;21(1):363. doi: 10.1186/s12891-020-03380-5.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): December 7, 2017
• Primary Completion (Actual): February 8, 2019
• Study Completion (Actual): July 20, 2020

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: December 18, 2017
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 18, 2017
• First Posted (Actual): December 21, 2017

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimated): October 9, 2023
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 14, 2023
• Last Verified: September 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: osteoarthritis; radiofrequency ablation; knee; cross-over; randomized clinical trial; genicular; viscosupplementation
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Joint Diseases; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Rheumatic Diseases; Arthritis; Osteoarthritis; Osteoarthritis, Knee; Physiological Effects of Drugs; Immunologic Factors; Protective Agents; Adjuvants, Immunologic; Viscosupplements; Hyaluronic Acid
• Other Study ID Numbers: 105-17-0001

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: Yes
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: Yes