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Transcutaneous Pulsed Radiofrequency for the Treatment of Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy Pain

23. juli 2026 opdateret af: Algiamed Technologies USA, Inc.

Can a Non-interventional Pulsed Radiofrequency Device Relieve Pain and Improve Function in Patients With Diabetic Neuropathy That Are Refractory to Medication? A Single Blind Randomized Placebo-controlled Trial

The purpose of this study is to determine if a non-invasive, electrical pulsed radio frequency (PRF) device can relieve pain and improve function in patients suffering from diabetic nerve pain in their feet, known as pedal diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Patients with this condition often experience severe pain, burning sensations, numbness, and tingling. Current medications for diabetic nerve pain often have unwanted side effects or do not provide sufficient relief.

In this single-blind, randomized trial, participants are assigned to receive either an active PRF treatment or a placebo (sham) treatment. Both treatments involve placing the device safely behind the knee (targeting the sciatic nerve) for 10 minutes, once a week for 3 weeks. The main question this study aims to answer is whether the active PRF treatment reduces nerve pain and symptoms significantly more than the placebo, measured by standard symptom questionnaires over a 6-month period.

Studieoversigt

Detaljeret beskrivelse

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is a common complication of diabetes, often presenting as a chronic, symmetrical, length-dependent sensorimotor polyneuropathy. Patients frequently experience neuropathic pain, hyperalgesia, allodynia, and paraesthesia in the lower extremities. Because pharmacological treatments for painful DPN are often ineffective and complicated by adverse side effects, there is a significant unmet clinical need for alternative, non-pharmacological therapies. This single-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial evaluates the efficacy of a transcutaneous electrical pulsed radio frequency (PRF) device in alleviating the pain and sensory symptoms associated with pedal DPN.

Patients diagnosed with pedal DPN who scored 4 or higher on the DN4 neuropathic pain diagnostic test were randomized into two parallel groups: an active treatment group and a placebo group. To ensure successful patient blinding, participants were advised that they might not feel a physical sensation during the treatment, which aligns with the natural sensory loss (numbness/paraesthesia) commonly experienced by this patient population. Care providers and investigators administering the interventions were unblinded.

The treatment protocol involved mapping the sciatic nerve in the popliteal fossa posteriorly at the knee. The active or placebo device was then applied bilaterally at this site for 10 minutes. Interventions were administered once weekly for three consecutive weeks.

Clinical efficacy was assessed using validated patient-reported outcome measures. The primary outcome evaluated changes in neuropathic pain and symptoms using the DN4 test, while the secondary outcome measured pain severity and interference with daily life using the Brief Pain Inventory-Short Form (BPI-SF). Data was collected at baseline, immediately following the third treatment, and at subsequent follow-up visits at 1, 3, and 6 months to evaluate both immediate and sustained therapeutic effects.

Undersøgelsestype

Interventionel

Tilmelding (Faktiske)

92

Fase

  • Ikke anvendelig

Kontakter og lokationer

Dette afsnit indeholder kontaktoplysninger for dem, der udfører undersøgelsen, og oplysninger om, hvor denne undersøgelse udføres.

Studiesteder

    • Gauteng
      • Johannesburg, Gauteng, Sydafrika
        • Centre for Diabetes and Endocrinology (CDE), Houghton
      • Johannesburg, Gauteng, Sydafrika
        • Clinical Sites - West Johannesburg
      • Johannesburg, Gauteng, Sydafrika
        • Diabetic Clinic at the Charlotte Maxeke Hospital
      • Krugersdorp, Gauteng, Sydafrika
        • Clinical Sites - Krugersdorp
      • Pretoria, Gauteng, Sydafrika
        • CDE / Clinical Sites - Pretoria

Deltagelseskriterier

Forskere leder efter personer, der passer til en bestemt beskrivelse, kaldet berettigelseskriterier. Nogle eksempler på disse kriterier er en persons generelle helbredstilstand eller tidligere behandlinger.

Berettigelseskriterier

Aldre berettiget til at studere

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Beskrivelse

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Diagnosis of pedal Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy.
  • A score of 4 or greater than 4/10 on the DN4 Test.
  • Naive to (no previous experience with) the electrical pulsed radio frequency current treatment.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Current pregnancy.
  • Presence of a pacemaker.
  • Presence of a peripheral or spinal cord stimulator.
  • Presence of metal implants in the knee and/or hip.

Studieplan

Dette afsnit indeholder detaljer om studieplanen, herunder hvordan undersøgelsen er designet, og hvad undersøgelsen måler.

Hvordan er undersøgelsen tilrettelagt?

Design detaljer

  • Primært formål: Behandling
  • Tildeling: Randomiseret
  • Interventionel model: Parallel tildeling
  • Maskning: Enkelt

Våben og indgreb

Deltagergruppe / Arm
Intervention / Behandling
Eksperimentel: Group A: Active Transcutaneous Pulsed Radio Frequency
Patients in this group received the active electrical pulsed radiofrequency current treatment. The device was applied bilaterally at the sciatic nerve in the popliteal fossa. Each treatment session lasted for 10 minutes. The intervention was administered once weekly for three consecutive weeks.
Active transcutaneous electrical pulsed radio frequency stimulation. The device is applied bilaterally at the sciatic nerve in the popliteal fossa for 10 minutes, once weekly for 3 consecutive weeks.
Andre navne:
  • Active PRF
  • tPRF
Sham-komparator: Group B: Placebo / Sham Device
Patients in this group received a placebo (sham) treatment designed to mimic the active device. The placebo device was applied bilaterally at the sciatic nerve in the popliteal fossa. Each placebo session lasted for 10 minutes. The sham intervention was administered once weekly for three consecutive weeks.
A sham device designed to look and operate like the active device but delivering no therapeutic current. It is applied bilaterally at the sciatic nerve in the popliteal fossa for 10 minutes, once weekly for 3 consecutive weeks to mimic the active treatment.
Andre navne:
  • Sham PRF

Hvad måler undersøgelsen?

Primære resultatmål

Resultatmål
Foranstaltningsbeskrivelse
Tidsramme
Change in Neuropathic Pain and Symptoms as Measured by the DN4 Test
Tidsramme: Baseline, prior to the third treatment (Week 3), and at 1, 3, and 6 months after the last treatment.
The DN4 (Douleur Neuropathique 4) questionnaire is a screening tool used to identify neuropathic pain and symptoms. It consists of 7 subjective questions regarding sensory symptoms (e.g., burning, painful cold, electric shocks, tingling, pins and needles, numbness) and 3 objective tests (hypoesthesia to touch, pinprick, and tactile allodynia). The maximum score is 10 points. A score of 4 or greater out of 10 represents a positive diagnosis of neuropathic pain. Higher scores indicate a greater severity of neuropathic pain and symptoms.
Baseline, prior to the third treatment (Week 3), and at 1, 3, and 6 months after the last treatment.

Sekundære resultatmål

Resultatmål
Foranstaltningsbeskrivelse
Tidsramme
Change in Pain Severity as Measured by the Brief Pain Inventory-Short Form (BPI-SF)
Tidsramme: Baseline, after the first treatment (Week 1), second treatment (Week 2), third treatment (post-treatment at Week 3), and at 1, 3, and 6 months after the last treatment.
The BPI-SF is a validated patient-reported questionnaire that evaluates pain. This outcome focuses on the Pain Severity subscale, which assesses worst, least, average, and present pain using an 11-point numerical rating scale. Scores range from 0 to 10, where 0 equals "no pain" and 10 equals "pain as bad as you can imagine". Higher scores indicate greater pain severity.
Baseline, after the first treatment (Week 1), second treatment (Week 2), third treatment (post-treatment at Week 3), and at 1, 3, and 6 months after the last treatment.
Change in Pain Interference as Measured by the Brief Pain Inventory-Short Form (BPI-SF)
Tidsramme: Baseline, after the first treatment (Week 1), second treatment (Week 2), third treatment (post-treatment at Week 3), and at 1, 3, and 6 months after the last treatment.
The BPI-SF also evaluates how much pain interferes with various aspects of the patient's daily life. This includes general activities, work, sleep, walking ability, mood, relations with other people, and overall quality of life. Interference is measured using an 11-point numerical rating scale ranging from 0 to 10, where 0 equals "does not interfere" and 10 equals "completely interferes". Higher scores indicate greater interference with daily functioning.
Baseline, after the first treatment (Week 1), second treatment (Week 2), third treatment (post-treatment at Week 3), and at 1, 3, and 6 months after the last treatment.

Samarbejdspartnere og efterforskere

Det er her, du vil finde personer og organisationer, der er involveret i denne undersøgelse.

Samarbejdspartnere

Efterforskere

  • Ledende efterforsker: Phyllis P Berger, Faculty: University of the Witwatersrand
  • Studieleder: Stanley S Landau, Centre for Diabetes and Endocrinology (CDE)

Datoer for undersøgelser

Disse datoer sporer fremskridtene for indsendelser af undersøgelsesrekord og resumeresultater til ClinicalTrials.gov. Studieregistreringer og rapporterede resultater gennemgås af National Library of Medicine (NLM) for at sikre, at de opfylder specifikke kvalitetskontrolstandarder, før de offentliggøres på den offentlige hjemmeside.

Studer store datoer

Studiestart (Faktiske)

1. december 2016

Primær færdiggørelse (Faktiske)

1. august 2019

Studieafslutning (Faktiske)

1. august 2019

Datoer for studieregistrering

Først indsendt

21. juli 2026

Først indsendt, der opfyldte QC-kriterier

23. juli 2026

Først opslået (Faktiske)

24. juli 2026

Opdateringer af undersøgelsesjournaler

Sidste opdatering sendt (Faktiske)

24. juli 2026

Sidste opdatering indsendt, der opfyldte kvalitetskontrolkriterier

23. juli 2026

Sidst verificeret

1. juli 2026

Mere information

Begreber relateret til denne undersøgelse

Plan for individuelle deltagerdata (IPD)

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IPD-planbeskrivelse

Individual participant data will not be publicly shared in a secondary data repository. De-identified aggregate data and study findings are presented in the primary manuscript and supporting protocol documents.

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