NCT04954391

Pulsed Radiofrequency One or Three Nerves for Chronic Shoulder Pain. A Prospective, Randomized, Double-blind Study

Pulsed Radiofrequency of the Suprascapular, Axillary Nerve and Articular Branch of the Lateral Pectoral Nerve vs Pulsed Radiofrequency of the Suprascapular Nerve Only for Chronic Shoulder Pain. A Prospective Randomized Double-blind Study

• Status: Unknown
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 142 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Saint Petersburg State University, Russia · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 99 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

Pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) neuromodulation / or ablation is an interventional pain management method. Clinical use of PRF for shoulder pain management generally focuses on the suprascapular nerve, what is considered a safe and superior to placebo and physiotherapy. We study the use of the PRF neuromodulation the suprascapular, axillary, and articular branches of the lateral pectoral nerve, as well as the effectiveness of this combined technique compared to the PRF of the suprascapular nerve alone

Detailed description

Background: It's believed that PRf of the suprascapular nerve is a safe and reliable treatment for shoulder pain. But PRF of the suprascapular nerve may be less effective than intra-articular steroid injections (Eyigor et al., 2010). There is also evidence that even test, diagnostic suprascapular nerve blockade in some patients may not give a satisfactory analgesic effect (Sinha et al., 2020). Probably, the unsatisfactory results of PRF suprascapular nerve as a search for a solution force the use of standard thermal RF ablation. (Bone et al., 2013) It is possible to expect a greater clinical effect from the combination of PRF of the three main articular nerves of the suprascapular, axillary and lateral pectoral nerves than from PRF of the suprascapular nerve alone. Nevertheless, having the task of obtaining the maximum effect from PRF, it seems important to maintain a balance between inevitable intervention and excessive intervention, considering that any intervention is associated with the risk of complications. Methods: The study is planned to include 142 adult patients who are planned to have PRF of the suprascapular nerve due to the presence of chronic shoulder pain.The study is planned as a prospective randomized double-blind controlled trial. According to inclusion / exclusion criteria, written informed consent signing, patients will be randomized in a 1: 1 ratio into two groups: PRF of the suprascapular nerve (n=71) and PRF of the suprascapular, axillary and lateral pectoral nerves (n=71). Patients will be evaluated by a physician 4 weeks and 16 weeks after discharge to receive information on treatment results. Sample size assessment: To identify differences of 5 points on the SPADI scale at a 5% significance level with 80% power, assuming an expected mean SPADI of 25.5 points and SD - 10.1 according to the study by Korkmaz et al 2010, 64 people will be required for each group. The number 128 was increased to 142 in the sample in order to compensate for observation losses.

Conditions

• Chronic Shoulder Pain

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
PROCEDURE	Pulsed radiofrequency neuromodulation of the suprascapular nerve only	PRF stimulation of the suprascapular nerve under ultrasound navigation in the notch of the scapula using the Cosman G4 apparatus with the introduction of stimulation: sensory: 50 Hz; 1 ms; up to 0.5 V; motor: 2 Hz; 1 ms; voltage - twice the sensory threshold, but not less than 1V; after introduction of 1 ml of 0.75% ropivacaine, PRF is performed: 42 С, 45V, 2Hz, 20 ms, 1 cycle - 480 sec. Before removing the cannula, local administration of 0.75% ropivacaine 2 ml, dexamethasone 4 mg. Under the US navigation, an RF cannula will be placed sequentially at the axillary nerve in the quadrilateral foramen and at the lateral pectoral nerve. After confirmatory sensory and motor stimulation and local administration of 0.75% ropivacaine 1 ml PRF session imitation lasting 480 sec will be carried out. After that local administration of 0.75% ropivacaine 2 ml, dexamethasone 4 mg will follow. The total dose for the entire procedure is ropivacaine 0.75% - 9 ml, dexamethasone 12 mg
PROCEDURE	Pulsed radiofrequency neuromodulation of the suprascapular, axillary, and articular branch of the lateral pectoral nerves	Under ultrasound navigation an RF cannula will be placed sequentially at the suprascapular nerve, at the axillary nerve and at the lateral pectoral nerve. After confirmatory sensory and motor stimulation from RF generator and local administration of 0.75% ropivacaine 1 ml to each nerve, PRF neuromodulation session will be carried out: 42 С, 45V, 2Hz, 20 ms, 1 cycle - 480 sec to each nerve. After that local administration of 0.75% ropivacaine 2 ml, dexamethasone 4 mg will follow to each nerve. The total dose for the entire procedure is ropivacaine 0.75% - 9 ml, dexamethasone 12 mg

Timeline

• Start date: 2021-08-05
• Primary completion: 2023-12-30
• Completion: 2024-04-30
• First posted: 2021-07-08
• Last updated: 2023-05-23

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Russia