Parallel Versus Perpendicular Technique for Lumbar Medial Branch Radiofrequency Neurotomy
Public ClinicalTrials.gov record NCT03912519. Field values are reproduced from the official study page; the official ClinicalTrials.gov record remains the source of truth for eligibility, enrollment, and contact information.
Data is sourced from official ClinicalTrials.gov public API records. Always review the official ClinicalTrials.gov record for the latest information.
Official title
Randomized Trial Comparing Parallel Versus Perpendicular Technique for Lumbar Medial Branch Radiofrequency Neurotomy
Brief summary
Reproduced verbatim from the official ClinicalTrials.gov record. Not medical advice.
Low back pain is a leading cause of disability worldwide. The lumbar zygapophyseal joints (z-joints) are estimated to be the source of low back pain between 10% and 40% of the time. Observational studies have shown that lumbar medial branch radiofrequency neurotomy (LMBRFN) can be an effective treatment for z-joint low back pain. Nonetheless, other publications such as the Cochrane collaboration systematic review and the "Minimal Interventional Treatments for Participants with Chronic Low Back Pain" or "MINT" randomized controlled trial conclude that LMBRFN is not efficacious. These discrepancies in the literature may be due to differences in patient selection and procedural technique. This study aims to employ patient selection via dual medial branch block resulting in at least 80% relief on both occasions. Using this rather strict enrollment criteria, the aim of the study is to then compare LMBRFN utilizing 16 gauge needles via the "parallel" approach as endorsed by Spine Intervention Society guidelines to LMBRFN performed with 22 gauge needles and another commonly employed "perpendicular" technique similar to that approach used for medial branch blocks. The primary outcome of the study will be to determine if there is a difference in the percentage of patients with lumbar facet pain who achieve moderate or good response (improvement of Numeric Pain Rating Scale of at least 50% or 80%) or in the duration of effect (median duration of moderate or good response in those with positive outcome) between these two groups.
Study identification
- NCT ID
- NCT03912519
- Recruitment status
- Enrolling by invitation
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Not applicable
- Enrollment
- 132 participants
Conditions and interventions
Interventions
- Parallel placement of 16 gauge electrodes Procedure
- Perpendicular placement with 22 gauge electrodes Procedure
Procedure
Eligibility (public fields only)
- Age range
- 40 Years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Healthy volunteers not accepted
This page does not interpret eligibility. Detailed inclusion and exclusion criteria are on the official ClinicalTrials.gov record.
Study timeline
- Start date
- Aug 20, 2019
- Primary completion
- Nov 30, 2027
- Completion
- Nov 30, 2028
- Last update posted
- Jul 12, 2026
2019 – 2028
United States locations
- U.S. sites
- 1
- U.S. states
- 1
- U.S. cities
- 1
| Facility | City | State | ZIP | Site status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vanderbilt University Medical Center | Nashville | Tennessee | 37212 | — |
Site contact phone numbers, emails, and investigator names are intentionally not displayed here. Open the official ClinicalTrials.gov record for site contact information.
About this trial record page
- What this page shows
- Public field values for ClinicalTrials.gov record NCT03912519, including study identification, conditions, interventions, eligibility (age, sex, healthy volunteer), timeline, and U.S. site list.
- What this page does not do
- No medical advice, eligibility judgments, treatment recommendations, study quality scoring, or AI-generated medical summaries. No site contact phone numbers, emails, or investigator names.
- Where the data comes from
- Sourced from the official ClinicalTrials.gov public API. The official record is the source of truth.
- Last refresh
- Last update posted Jul 12, 2026 · Synced Sep 2, 2026
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Open the official record
The complete protocol, eligibility criteria, and contact information for NCT03912519 live on ClinicalTrials.gov.