The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if Ultra Low Frequency (ULF) neuromodulation works to treat nociceptive chronic low back pain in adults. It will also evaluate the safety of ULF therapy. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does ULF neuromodulation reduce chronic low back pain? * What, if any, unexpected medical problems do participants experience when treated with ULF neuromodulation? Researchers will compare ULF therapy to conventional treatments for chronic low back pain. Participants will: * Be randomly assigned to either the study device or to conventional medical treatments * Undergo standard surgical procedures to place the study device if assigned to the device arm * Attend regular clinic visits over 24 months for checkups and data collection
This is a prospective, multi-center, randomized, controlled trial in which subjects with chronic, intractable axial low back pain with prominent nociceptive features will be randomized 2:1 into either Ultra Low Frequency (ULF) therapy combined with conventional medical management (CMM) or CMM alone. The purpose of this study is to compare the safety and efficacy of ULF neuromodulation to CMM in Subjects with chronic, intractable axial low back pain with prominent nociceptive features over a 24-month period. Subjects assigned to CMM will continue with further optimization of the best available medical treatments. Subjects assigned to ULF therapy will proceed with a temporary trial phase and be eligible for permanent device implant if they experience at least 50% back pain relief. An option to cross over to the alternative treatment arm will be permitted at the 6-month timepoint for subjects who meet the criteria. The study primary endpoint will be evaluated at 3 months and follow-up will continue for 24 months total.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
303
ultra low frequency spinal cord stimulation
conventional medical management
The International Spine Centre
Norwood, South Australia, Australia
RECRUITINGCerCare Pty Ltd
Wayville, South Australia, Australia
RECRUITINGMonash House Research Centre
Clayton, Victoria, Australia
RECRUITINGBack pain VAS responder rate at 3 months
Comparison between the groups of the proportion of participants achieving at least 50% back pain relief from baseline, measured on a 10 cm visual analog scale (VAS).
Time frame: 3 months
Composite of back pain relief measured by VAS and functional improvement measured by ODI at 6 months
Comparison between the groups of the proportion of participants who are both back pain responders (at least 50% relief from baseline VAS) and have at least a 10 point improvement in disability from baseline as measured by Oswestry Disability Index (ODI).
Time frame: 6 months
Back pain VAS responder rate at 6 months
Comparison between the groups of the proportion of participants achieving at least 50% back pain relief from baseline, measured on a 10 cm visual analog scale (VAS).
Time frame: 6 months
Functional improvement measured by ODI at 6 months
Comparison between the groups of the proportion of participants who have at least a 10 point improvement in disability from baseline as measured by Oswestry Disability Index (ODI).
Time frame: 6 months
Average change in back pain VAS at 3 months
Comparison between the groups in the average percentage change from baseline in back pain intensity, measured on a 10 cm visual analog scale (VAS).
Time frame: 3 months
Average change in back pain VAS at 6 months
Comparison between the groups in the average percentage change from baseline in back pain intensity, measured on a 10 cm visual analog scale (VAS).
Time frame: 6 months
Average change in disability measured by ODI at 3 months
Comparison between the groups in the average change from baseline in disability, measured by the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI).
Time frame: 3 months
Average change in disability measured by ODI at 6 months
Comparison between the groups in the average change from baseline in disability, measured by the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI).
Time frame: 6 months
Average change in health-related quality of life assessed by EQ-5D-5L at 6 months
Comparison between the groups in the average change from baseline in health-related quality of life, measured by the EuroQol Index (EQ-5D-5L).
Time frame: 6 months
Back pain VAS remitter rate at 6 months
Comparison between the groups of the proportion of participants achieving back pain remission from baseline, defined as a score of 3 cm or less for 6 consecutive months, measured on a 10 cm visual analog scale (VAS).
Time frame: 6 months
Leg pain VAS responder rate at 3 months
Among subjects with baseline leg pain VAS of at least 5 cm, comparison between the groups of the proportion of participants achieving at least 50% leg pain relief from baseline, measured on a 10 cm visual analog scale (VAS).
Time frame: 3 months
Leg pain VAS responder rate at 6 months
Among subjects with baseline leg pain VAS of at least 5 cm, comparison between the groups of the proportion of participants achieving at least 50% leg pain relief from baseline, measured on a 10 cm visual analog scale (VAS).
Time frame: 6 months
Average change in opioid dose at 6 months
Comparison between the groups in the average change from baseline in opioid equivalent medication dosage.
Time frame: 6 months
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