The CryoGem Trial is a research study that tests a freezing technique called cryoneurolysis to see if it helps relieve pain in adults with trigeminal neuralgia. Trigeminal neuralgia is a condition that causes severe facial pain. In this study, we want to find out if the freezing technique is effective and safe. We will do this by comparing two groups of adults with trigeminal neuralgia. One group will receive the actual treatment, while the other group will receive a fake treatment called a sham. Neither the participants nor the assessors will know which group they are in (this is called a blinded study). For the next four weeks, participants in both groups will continue recording their headaches without knowing which treatment they are receiving. After this initial period, there will be an extension period where all participants can receive treatment as needed for up to two years. The results of this study will help us decide if the freezing technique is a viable treatment option for trigeminal neuralgia. Our main goal is to see how many people in each group have a significant reduction in pain (at least 75% less pain). We will also record other important information about the participants. We are looking to recruit up to 24 adults with trigeminal neuralgia to take part in this study. All participants will keep a daily diary for two weeks to track their headaches before starting the treatment. Then, they will be randomly assigned to either the treatment group or the sham group.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
TRIPLE
Enrollment
24
Cryoneurolysis
Stimulation
St. Olavs University Hospital
Trondheim, Norway
RECRUITINGAverage daily pain
Difference in number of treatment responders (≥ 75% reduction in the mean average daily pain intensity on a NRS score) at weeks 3 - 4 post-intervention for paroxysmal pain corresponding to the treated branch compared to baseline in the treatment versus the sham group.
Time frame: Weeks 3 - 4 post-intervention compared to baseline
Incidence of Treatment-Emergent Adverse Events [Safety and Tolerability]
Occurrence of treatment-emergent adverse events and serious adverse events.
Time frame: Week 1-4
50% responders
Difference in number of treatment responders (≥ 50% reduction in the mean average daily pain intensity on a Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) score at weeks 3 - 4 post-intervention for paroxysmal pain corresponding to the treated branch compared to baseline) in the treatment versus the sham group.
Time frame: Weeks 3 - 4 post-intervention compared to baseline
100% responders
Difference in number of complete responders (100% reduction in the mean average daily pain intensity on a NRS score at weeks 3 - 4 post-intervention for paroxysmal pain corresponding to the treated branch compared to baseline) in the active arm versus the sham arm.
Time frame: Weeks 3 - 4 post-intervention compared to baseline
Patient Global Impression of Change (PGI-C) scale responders (a PGI- C responder is defined as having a response of "much improved" or "very much improved" at week 4.)
Difference in number of PGI-C responders corresponding to the treated branch at week 4 in the active arm versus sham arm.
Time frame: Week 4
Barrow Institute of (BNI- P) responders (a clinically significant response is defined as having BNI I - BNI IIIb at week 4).
Difference in number of clinically significant BNI-P responders at week 4 in the active arm versus sham arm.
Time frame: Week 4 in the active arm versus sham arm.
Barrow Institute of (BNI- P) excellent responders (excellent response is defined as having BNI I - BNI II at week 4).
Difference in number of excellent BNI-P responders at week 4 in the active arm versus sham arm.
Time frame: Weeks 3 - 4 post-intervention compared to baseline
Penn Facial Pain Scale- Revised (PENN-FPS-R) score.
Difference in reduction of PENN-FPS-R from baseline to week 4 in the active arm versus sham arm.
Time frame: Week 4 post-intervention compared to baseline
Change in mean average daily pain intensity NRS score (ADP) in the active versus sham arm.
Difference in reduction mean average daily pain intensity NRS score (ADP) corresponding to the treated branch at weeks 3 - 4 compared to baseline in the active arm versus the sham arm.
Time frame: Weeks 3 - 4 post-intervention compared to baseline
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