RecruitingNot Applicable

MRI-Guided Cryoablation to Alleviate Pain in Head, Neck and Spine

United States50 participantsStarted 2013-05

Plain-language summary

The objective of this study is to provide pain relief to patients with facet joint disease or head and neck pain related to compression of a nerve root. The goal is to provide palliative care with superior efficacy and longer relief compared to current methods.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * Participants must be willing and able to sign a written informed consent document. * Patients must have facet joint disease or pain due to a damaged or compressed nerve that would benefit from a minimally invasive image-guided procedure (i.e., adjacent to critical structures, better visualized under 3 Tesla MRI than CT) * Subjects must be able to adhere to the visit schedules and attend pre and post imaging. * Participants must be at least 18 years of age * Participants must have an estimated life expectancy of \>8 weeks in the opinion of the clinician. * Patients with radiculopathy must have the cause of pain confirmed by a nerve block within 3 months prior to ablation Exclusion Criteria: * Contraindications to MRI and Gadolinium- (i.e. estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate \<60ml/min, metal clips) * Pregnant or breastfeeding woman are excluded from this research.

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Eliminating radicular pain or pain caused by spinal disease.

Timeframe: 1 month

Trial details

NCT IDNCT01788410

SponsorBrigham and Women's Hospital

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeOBSERVATIONAL

Primary completion2030-05

Contact for this trial

Thomas Lee, MD

(617) 732-7260 tchlee@partners.org

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Facet Joints; Degeneration trials

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.