Not Yet RecruitingNot Applicable

Comparative Effectiveness of Two Different Approaches to Radiofrequency Ablation of Lumbar Medial Branch Nerves

United States25 participantsStarted 2026-03

Plain-language summary

The purpose of this voluntary research study is to determine whether the parasagittal approach to lumbar medial branch (LMB) nerve radio frequency ablation (RFA) will have greater efficacy than the traditional approach to lumbar medial branch nerve radio frequency ablation.

Who can participate

Age range18 Years

SexALL

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

✓. Bilateral equally intense axial low back pain
✓. Pain duration of ≥ 6 months
✓. Three-day average NRS scores of ≥ 3/10
✓. Age greater than 18 years
✓. Failure of conservative treatment, including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications and physical therapy
✓. Positive response to a series of two bilateral diagnostic lumbar medial branch nerve blocks (≥ 80% pain relief). This is the current standard of care.

Exclusion criteria

✕. Radicular pain below the knee
✕. Systemic infection or localized infection at the anticipated introducer entry site
✕. Pregnancy
✕. Allergy to Lidocaine
✕. Bleeding dyscrasias
✕. Patients unable to give informed consent
✕. History of lumbar spine surgery at the affected levels
✕. History of previous bilateral lumbar RFA of medial branches within the past six months.

What they're measuring

The number of patients whose procedure was successful (gained 50% or more reduction in numeric rating pain (NRS) scores).

Timeframe: Baseline

The number of patients whose procedure was successful (gained 50% or more reduction in numeric rating pain (NRS) scores).

Timeframe: 1 month post-procedure.

The number of patients whose procedure was successful (gained 50% or more reduction in numeric rating pain (NRS) scores).

Timeframe: 6 months post-procedure.

Trial details

NCT IDNCT06283628

SponsorMilton S. Hershey Medical Center

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2026-12-30

Contact for this trial

Nancy Ruth Jarbadan, BS

717-531-6135 njarbadan@pennstatehealth.psu.edu

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Lumbar Spondylosis trials

Who can participate

Age range18 Years

SexALL

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

✓. Bilateral equally intense axial low back pain
✓. Pain duration of ≥ 6 months
✓. Three-day average NRS scores of ≥ 3/10
✓. Age greater than 18 years
✓. Failure of conservative treatment, including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications and physical therapy
✓. Positive response to a series of two bilateral diagnostic lumbar medial branch nerve blocks (≥ 80% pain relief). This is the current standard of care.

Exclusion criteria

✕. Radicular pain below the knee
✕. Systemic infection or localized infection at the anticipated introducer entry site
✕. Pregnancy
✕. Allergy to Lidocaine
✕. Bleeding dyscrasias
✕. Patients unable to give informed consent
✕. History of lumbar spine surgery at the affected levels
✕. History of previous bilateral lumbar RFA of medial branches within the past six months.

What they're measuring

The number of patients whose procedure was successful (gained 50% or more reduction in numeric rating pain (NRS) scores).

Timeframe: Baseline

The number of patients whose procedure was successful (gained 50% or more reduction in numeric rating pain (NRS) scores).

Timeframe: 1 month post-procedure.

The number of patients whose procedure was successful (gained 50% or more reduction in numeric rating pain (NRS) scores).

Timeframe: 6 months post-procedure.