High-frequency Alternating Current Stimulation for Neurophatic Pain in Spinal Cord Injury (NCT07359677) | Clinical Trial Compass
CompletedNot Applicable
High-frequency Alternating Current Stimulation for Neurophatic Pain in Spinal Cord Injury
Spain30 participantsStarted 2026-01-30
Plain-language summary
To investigate the safety and effectiveness of transcutaneous electrical stimulation with 40 kHz alternating currents combined with standard treatment compared to placebo electrical stimulation plus standard treatment for neuropathic pain in people with spinal cord injury.
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:
* People with spinal cord injuries of any aetiology affecting the D1 spinal cord level or lower (paraplegia)
* With injury grade A, B, C, or D according to the ASIA (American Spinal Injury Association) Impairment Scale (AIS)
* Time since spinal cord injury ≥ 3 months
* A score of ≥ 4 points on the Dolour Neuropathique 4 (DN4) scale
* Neuropathic pain at the level of the injury (within the dermatome at that level and up to three dermatomes below) and/or below the level of the injury (more than three dermatomes below)
* Duration of pain ≥ 1 month
* Average pain perception score ≥ 30 mm on the visual analogue scale (VAS) in the week prior to eligibility, with a daily record of 5 days (Monday to Friday) in the morning.
* Be able to understand instructions and assessment tools
* Agree to participate in the study and sign the informed consent form
Exclusion Criteria:
* Cauda equina injuries
* Brain injuries or other central nervous system injuries concomitant with spinal cord injury
* A value of 100 mm in any of the daily records collected in the week prior to eligibility
* Having any contraindications for the application of transcutaneous electrical stimulation: cardiac pacemaker or any other implanted electrical device, epilepsy, pregnancy, active malignant tumours in the area of application of the stimulation, and wounds or skin damage in the area of stimulation
* History of psychiatric illness
* Major depression
* Spinal cord injury caused by autolysis
* …
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
1
Pain perception - NPSI
Timeframe: Prior to the intervention (Baseline), during the intervention after five sessions (Day 5), after the intervention (Day 10) and one week after the end of the intervention (Day 15)