Evaluation of Occipital Nerve Stimulation in Intractable Occipital Neuralgias (NCT03475797) | Clinical Trial Compass
TerminatedNot Applicable
Evaluation of Occipital Nerve Stimulation in Intractable Occipital Neuralgias
Stopped: Sponsor's decision to stop the study prematurely due to insufficient inclusion.
France22 participantsStarted 2018-04-20
Plain-language summary
Medically intractable pain caused by occipital neuralgia can be very difficult to control with traditional pain management. Peripheral nerve stimulation which is used in migraines and cluster headache can be an alternative for these patients with occipital neuralgias when medical treatment and traditional pain management have failed (drugs for neuropathic pain, infiltrations, psychobehavioral approaches and multidisciplinary approach in a pain center). Occipital nerve stimulation consists to put a lead subcutaneously in front of the occipital nerve and to connect the lead to a pulse generator. A retrospective study of 60 patients was conducted in Nantes University Hospital. The results were good with the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) decreased from 8.4 preoperatively to 2.85 postoperatively. The medical quantification scale (MQS) was reduced to about 50% (18 preoperatively versus 9.9 postoperatively). Stimulation was quiet stable over time with a mean follow-up of 24 months (range 6 to 72 months). The aim of StimO is to confirm this result through a national controlled randomized multicenter study where occipital nerve stimulation will be compared to the optimal medical management.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years – 85 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:
* Patients between 18 and 85 years old
* Chronic occipital neuralgias as defined by International Headache Society (IHS) more than 6 months with permanent pain associated or not with paroxysm
* Secondary occipital neuralgias (post-traumatic, post-surgery, major arthrosis, compression or lesion of the occipital nerve …)
* Chronic neuropathic pain according to the Neuropathic Pain Diagnostic Questionnaire (DN4 ≥ 4)
* Maximum pain on VAS ≥ 50/100
* Failure of medical treatment (association of neuropathic medication like antiepileptic and/or antidepressant and/or antalgic treatment like paracetamol, tramadol or morphine) and pain management in a pain Unit including multidisciplinary approach, physiotherapy, block test in C1-C2, radiofrequency rhizolysis, and/or corticosteroid infiltration of C2 according to the criteria defined by Health Authorities for spinal cord stimulation.
* Reduction of pain with Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) in occipital area
* Neurological examen has to be completed and must be normal except for the occipital neuralgia territory
* A negative pregnancy test for women with childbearing potential
* Women of childbearing potential must use appropriate method(s) of contraception during the clinical trial
* Patients must be capable of giving informed consent and must have signed informed consent
* Affiliation to an appropriate health insurance
Exclusion Criteria:
* Contraindication to the experimental medical devices
…
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.