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Transcutaneous Pulsed Radiofrequency for the Treatment of Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy Pain

23 juillet 2026 mis à jour par: 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.

Aperçu de l'étude

Statut

Complété

Les conditions

Intervention / Traitement

Description détaillée

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.

Type d'étude

Interventionnel

Inscription (Réel)

92

Phase

  • N'est pas applicable

Contacts et emplacements

Cette section fournit les coordonnées de ceux qui mènent l'étude et des informations sur le lieu où cette étude est menée.

Lieux d'étude

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

Critères de participation

Les chercheurs recherchent des personnes qui correspondent à une certaine description, appelée critères d'éligibilité. Certains exemples de ces critères sont l'état de santé général d'une personne ou des traitements antérieurs.

Critère d'éligibilité

Âges éligibles pour étudier

  • Adulte
  • Adulte plus âgé

Accepte les volontaires sains

Non

La description

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.

Plan d'étude

Cette section fournit des détails sur le plan d'étude, y compris la façon dont l'étude est conçue et ce que l'étude mesure.

Comment l'étude est-elle conçue ?

Détails de conception

  • Objectif principal: Traitement
  • Répartition: Randomisé
  • Modèle interventionnel: Affectation parallèle
  • Masquage: Seul

Armes et Interventions

Groupe de participants / Bras
Intervention / Traitement
Expérimental: 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.
Dispositif: NMS 460 Pulsed Radio Frequency Device
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.
Autres noms:
  • Active PRF
  • tPRF
Comparateur factice: 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.
Dispositif: Placebo Device
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.
Autres noms:
  • Sham PRF

Que mesure l'étude ?

Principaux critères de jugement

Mesure des résultats
Description de la mesure
Délai
Change in Neuropathic Pain and Symptoms as Measured by the DN4 Test
Délai: 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.

Mesures de résultats secondaires

Mesure des résultats
Description de la mesure
Délai
Change in Pain Severity as Measured by the Brief Pain Inventory-Short Form (BPI-SF)
Délai: 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)
Délai: 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.

Collaborateurs et enquêteurs

C'est ici que vous trouverez les personnes et les organisations impliquées dans cette étude.

Parrainer

Algiamed Technologies USA, Inc.

Collaborateurs

Xavant Technology (Pty) Ltd

Les enquêteurs

  • Chercheur principal: Phyllis P Berger, Faculty: University of the Witwatersrand
  • Directeur d'études: Stanley S Landau, Centre for Diabetes and Endocrinology (CDE)

Dates d'enregistrement des études

Ces dates suivent la progression des dossiers d'étude et des soumissions de résultats sommaires à ClinicalTrials.gov. Les dossiers d'étude et les résultats rapportés sont examinés par la Bibliothèque nationale de médecine (NLM) pour s'assurer qu'ils répondent à des normes de contrôle de qualité spécifiques avant d'être publiés sur le site Web public.

Dates principales de l'étude

Début de l'étude (Réel)

1 décembre 2016

Achèvement primaire (Réel)

1 août 2019

Achèvement de l'étude (Réel)

1 août 2019

Dates d'inscription aux études

Première soumission

21 juillet 2026

Première soumission répondant aux critères de contrôle qualité

23 juillet 2026

Première publication (Réel)

24 juillet 2026

Mises à jour des dossiers d'étude

Dernière mise à jour publiée (Réel)

24 juillet 2026

Dernière mise à jour soumise répondant aux critères de contrôle qualité

23 juillet 2026

Dernière vérification

1 juillet 2026

Plus d'information

Termes liés à cette étude

Mots clés

Termes MeSH pertinents supplémentaires

Autres numéros d'identification d'étude

  • M161037

Plan pour les données individuelles des participants (IPD)

Prévoyez-vous de partager les données individuelles des participants (DPI) ?

NON

Description du régime IPD

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.

Informations sur les médicaments et les dispositifs, documents d'étude

Étudie un produit pharmaceutique réglementé par la FDA américaine

Non

Étudie un produit d'appareil réglementé par la FDA américaine

Non

produit fabriqué et exporté des États-Unis.

Non

Ces informations ont été extraites directement du site Web clinicaltrials.gov sans aucune modification. Si vous avez des demandes de modification, de suppression ou de mise à jour des détails de votre étude, veuillez contacter register@clinicaltrials.gov. Dès qu'un changement est mis en œuvre sur clinicaltrials.gov, il sera également mis à jour automatiquement sur notre site Web .

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