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Assessment of Nociceptive Processing Among Patients With Temporo-mandibular Disorders

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Temporomandibular Disorder
Interventions
Procedure: High-frequency electrical stimulation
Registration Number
NCT04086732
Lead Sponsor
Université Catholique de Louvain
Brief Summary

This case control study will investigate the physiological effect of nociceptive input in individuals with temporomandibular disorders. To do so, the investigators will compare the development of secondary hyperalgesia following high frequency electrical stimulation (HFS) of skin nociceptors in the forearms for up to 48 hours in individuals with chronic TMD (as a main complain) and in healthy controls. Furthermore, the investigators will evaluate the association between the response to HFS and various factors, such as demographic, psychosocial and pain-related clinical factors.

Detailed Description

This control study is designed to compare the development of secondary hyperalgesia following high frequency electrical stimulation (HFS) of skin nociceptors in the forearms in individuals with chronic TMD (as a main complain) and in healthy controls.

During the first part of the experiment (time1, day 1), all potential participants will fill a basic demographic questionnaire concerning their age, weight, height, and current medications (appendix 2). Participants with TMD will be diagnosed according to the Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (DC/TMD). The DC/TMD includes the following questionnaires: the Graded Chronic Pain Scale, the Jaw Functional Limitation scale, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and -15 and the Oral Behaviors Checklist. In addition, participants will be asked to fill the Central sensitization inventory questionnaire, as well as the symptom Severity Scale. Lastly, the investigators will evaluate the distribution of pain by asking participants to draw the pain that they felt during the past 7 days on a digital tablet. This will allow us to determine the total area of pain of each participant, as well as the Widespread Pain Index. Subjects will also be asked to provide a rating of their average pain for the last 24h

The psychophysical evaluation will be conducted later on the same day (day1). Subjects will be asked to provide a rating of their average pain at present time (time 2). Then, participants will be familiarized with the different procedures involved in the experiment.

Pressure pain thresholds will be assessed on the temporalis muscle, the trapezius muscle, and tibialis anterior (time 3).

The intensity of pain resulting from pinprick stimulation and allodynia in the area surrounding the electrode ("test area") will be assessed, as well as on the homologous site of the contralateral control arm before HFS (time 4).

Then HFS will be applied (time 5) on the left or right volar forearm (10 cm distal to the cubital fossa). HFS will consist in trains of transcutaneous electrical stimuli consisting of 42 Hz trains (pulse width: 2 ms) lasting 1 s each. The trains will be repeated 12 times. Each train will be separated by several 10 seconds of rest. The intensity of each stimulus will be set to 5 milliampere.

The of pain resulting from pinprick stimulation and allodynia in the area surrounding the electrode ("test area") will be assessed 30 min after HFS (in a counterbalanced order) on the homologous site of the contralateral control arm (time 6).

The extent of secondary hyperalgesia will be assessed approximately 45 min following HFS (time 7).

Then, they will be asked assess the presence of secondary hyperalgesia in the test-site 24 (time 8, day 2) and 48 hours (time 9, day 3) following HFS with with calibrated neurological examination pins (Neuropen, Owen-Mumford Ltd, Oxford, UK).

6 months after their initial assessment (time 10, day 180), if they gave their consent for long-term follow-up, patients will be asked to fill the following questionnaires again

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
Female
Target Recruitment
40
Inclusion Criteria

Not provided

Exclusion Criteria

Not provided

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Healthy controlHigh-frequency electrical stimulation-
Temporomandibular disorderHigh-frequency electrical stimulation-
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
The extent of secondary hyperalgesia on the forearm in the proximo-distal direction 45 minutes after HFSAfter HFS and the assessment of pain resulting from pinprick stimulation and allodynia (time 7). This outcome is taken at day 1 at time 7.

The area of secondary hyperalgesia (cm square) will be assessed with a calibrated 128 millinewton pinprick probe. Pokes of 1-second duration will be provided at a frequency of 0.5 Hz, starting well outside and approaching the stimulation site with steps of 0,5 cm from 4 different directions towards the application site. Participants will be asked to keep their eyes closed during the entire mapping procedure

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
WeightAt baseline (time 1). This outcome is taken at day 1 at time 1.

Self-declared weight of the subject

Patient health questionnaire-9At baseline (time 1) and 6 months after the initial assessment (time 10). This outcome is taken at day 1 at time 1 and day 180 at time 10.

Questionnaire assessing depression symptoms. The score will range from 1 (minimal depression) to 27 (severe depression)

Patient health questionnaire-15At baseline (time 1) and 6 months after the initial assessment (time 10). This outcome is taken at day 1 at time 1 and day 180 at time 10.

Questionnaire assessing overall physical symptoms commonly associated with TMD. The score will range from 0 (minimal physical symptoms) to 30 (high physical symptoms)

AgeDuring the initial evaluation (time 1). This outcome is taken at day 1 at time 1.

Self-declared age of the subject

Jaw functional limitation scaleAt baseline (time 1) and 6 months after the initial assessment (time 10). This outcome is taken at day 1 at time 1 and day 180 at time 10.

Questionnaire assessing limitations across mastication, jaw mobility, and verbal and emotional expression often accompanying TMD. The score will range from 0 (law functional limitation) to 10 (high functional limitation)

Generalized anxiety disorder-7At baseline (time 1) and 6 months after the initial assessment (time 10). This outcome is taken at day 1 at time 1 and day 180 at time 10.

Questionnaire assessing anxiety. The score will range from 0 (no anxiety) to 27 (severe anxiety)

HeightAt baseline (time 1). This outcome is taken at day 1 at time 1.

Self-declared height of the subject

The TMD diagnosis according to the diagnostic criteria for temporomandibular disorders (DC/TMD)At baseline (time 1). This outcome is taken at day 1 at time 1.

TMD subgroup based on the DC/TMD: Myalgia, Arthralgia, Headache attributed to TMD, degenerative joint disease, disc displacement with reduction, disc displacement with reduction with intermittent locking, disc displacement with reduction with limited opening, disc displacement with reduction without limited opening, or subluxation.

Graded chronic pain scaleAt baseline (time 1) and 6 months after the initial assessment (time 10). This outcome is taken at day 1 at time 1 and day 180 at time 10.

questionnaire assessing TMD-related pain intensity and disability: The score will range from grade 0 (no TMD pain in prior 6 months) to grade IV (High disability, severly limiting)

Oral Behaviors ChecklistAt baseline (time 1) and 6 months after the initial assessment (time 10). This outcome is taken at day 1 at time 1 and day 180 at time 10.

Questionnaire assesses the frequency of oral parafunctional behaviors. The score will range from 0 (no oral parafunctional behaviors) to 84 (high oral parafunctional behavior frequency)

Central sensitization inventoryAt baseline (time 1) and 6 months after the initial assessment (time 10). This outcome is taken at day 1 at time 1 and day 180 at time 10.

Questionnaire assessing symptoms and comorbidities that are presumed to be associated with central sensitization. The score will range from 0 (no symptoms and comorbidities presumed to be associated with central sensitization) to 100 (extreme symptoms and comorbidities presumed to be associated with central sensitization).

Average pain at present time before HFS: scoreDuring the initial evaluation (time 2). This outcome is taken at day 1 at time 2.

Current pain on a numerical rating. The score will range from 0 (no pain) to 100 (worst imaginable pain)

Symptom severity scaleAt baseline (time 1) and 6 months after the initial assessment (time 10). This outcome is taken at day 1 at time 1 and day 180 at time 10.

Questionnaire assessing the severity of symptoms associated with fibromyalgia, a condition frequently associated with TMD. The score will range from 0 (low severity) to 12 (high severity).

The distribution of painAt baseline (time 1) and 6 months after the initial assessment (time 10). This outcome is taken at day 1 at time 1 and day 180 at time 10.

Pain felt during the past 7 days drawn on a digital table

The Widespread pain indexAt baseline (time 1) and 6 months after the initial assessment (time 10). This outcome is taken at day 1 at time 1 and day 180 at time 10.

Questionnaire assessing the extent of bodily pain. The score will range from 1 (no painful body region) to 19 (19 painful body regions)

Average pain during the last 24h before HFSDuring the initial evaluation (time 1). This outcome is taken at day 1 at time 1.

Pain during the last 24h on a numerical rating scale. The score will range from 0 (no pain) to 100 (worst imaginable pain)

Pressure pain thresholds on the temporalis muscle, trapezius muscle and tibialis anteriorDuring the initial evaluation (time 3)]. This outcome is taken at day 1 at time 3.

Pressure pain will be assessed 3 times on each muscle, with a 30-second interstimulus interval, and the arithmetic mean of the 3 repeated measures will be used for analysis

The long term persistence of secondary hyperalgesia after HFS24 hours (time 8) and 48 hours after HFS (time 9). This outcome is taken at day 2 at time 8, and at day 3 at time 9.

Participants will assess the persistence of secondary hyperalgesia with calibrated neurological examination pins (Neuropen, Owen-Mumford Ltd, Oxford, UK). The score will range from 0 (no hyperalgesia) to 1 (hyperalgesia is present)

Baseline pain resulting from pinprick stimulation in the area surrounding the electrode ("test area") and on the homologous site of the contralateral control armJust before HFS (time 4)]. This outcome is taken at day 1 at time 4.

Participants will rate the pain induced by pin-prick stimulation in the area surrounding the electrode on a numerical rating scale ranging from 0 (no perception) to 100 (maximal pain), with 50 representing the transition from nonpainful to painful domains of sensation

Allodynia in the area surrounding the electrode ("test area") and on the homologous site of the contralateral control armJust before HFS (time 4) and after HFS (time 6). This outcome is taken at day 1 at time 4 and time 6.

The investigators will assess allodynia with a Cotton wisp exerting a force of 3 millinewton, a cotton wool tip fixed to an elastic strip exerting a force of 100 millinewton when slightly bent, and a standardized brush exerting a force of 200-400 millinewton

The intensity of pain resulting from pinprick stimulation 30 min after HFSTime Frame: At baseline (time 6). This outcome is taken at day 1 at time 6.

Participants will rate the pain induced by pin-prick stimulation in the area surrounding the electrode on a numerical rating scale ranging from 0 (no perception) to 100 (maximal pain), with 50 representing the transition from nonpainful to painful domains of sensation

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Cliniques universitaires St-Luc

🇧🇪

Brussels, Belgium

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