MedPath

Occipital Nerve RF Between Occipital Nerve Block And Occipital Nerve Radiofrequency Ablation

Not Applicable
Not yet recruiting
Conditions
Headache
Occipital Neuralgia
Interventions
Device: Radiofrequency ablation
Registration Number
NCT04124458
Lead Sponsor
Allevio Pain Management Clinic
Brief Summary

This is a randomized, double blind, single-center, clinical trial. The study will be conducted over a period of 6 months. The study will be conducted at the Allevio Pain Clinic, Toronto, Canada.

Detailed Description

During the first visit the investigator will assess potential subject's eligibility. Screening and recruitment, and randomization, and administer questionnaires will be performed by research coordinator. Study informed consent form (ICF) can be signed on the RF procedure day. If additional visits will be required to finalize the procedures related to the first visit they will be scheduled accordingly. After randomization the qualified participants will be scheduled for their bilateral Occipital RF or bilateral Occipital Block.

Participants will be asked to complete the follow-up questionnaires at baseline, 3 and 6 months. On their last study visit, participants will have an exit interview, in addition to completing study measures.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
NOT_YET_RECRUITING
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
70
Inclusion Criteria
  • Age 18-90
  • Confirmed diagnosis of occipital headaches, patients with concurrent other types of headaches will not be excluded (except undiagnosed headaches)
  • Duration of occipital headaches > 3 months
Exclusion Criteria
  • Non-English speakers;
  • Refusal to sign informed consent;
  • Allergy to medications which will be used in the study;
  • Concurrent undiagnosed headaches
  • Current brain tumors
  • Current known tumors with known metastasis in other organs
  • Occipital blocks within the last 3 months
  • Currently receiving treatment with Botox for migraine.
  • Patient has RF of occipital nerve/s within the last year

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Pulsed Radiofrequency AblationRadiofrequency ablationIn radiofrequency ablation arm, sensory brunch of occipital nerve will be burn with max allowable temperature: 42 degrees Celsius, real temperature: 41 degrees Celsius, power=65 volts, two cycles of 180 second.
Bilateral Occipital Nerve BlockRadiofrequency ablationIn this arm all steps are the same as other arm, except the generator will not be on and patient will have pain relief by injecting numbing medications beside the sensory nerves.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Quality of life assessment: Short Form Brief Pain Inventory (BPI-SF)Change from baseline BPI-SF at 6 months

measured by Short Form Brief Pain Inventory (BPI-SF), between minimum of zero and maximum of ten

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Quality of life assessment: General Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire (GAD)Baseline, every 3 months up to 6 months

measured by General Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire (GAD)

Quality of life assessment: Patients self-reported perceived duration of effect (PSPDE)Baseline, every 3 months up to 6 months

measured by Patients self-reported perceived duration of effect (PSPDE)

Quality of life assessment: Global Improvement and Satisfaction score measured by PGIC)Baseline, every 3 months up to 6 months

measured by Global Improvement and Satisfaction score measured by PGIC)

At Least of 30% decrease in the pain scoreBaseline, every 3 months up to 6 months

measured by The Migraine Disability Assessment Test (MIDAS), between minimum of zero and maximum of twenty one

Quality of life assessmentBaseline, every 3 months up to 6 months

measured by Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI)

© Copyright 2025. All Rights Reserved by MedPath