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OpenTrials
Completed

NCT Number: NCT00443469

Spinal Magnetic Stimulation in Neuropathic Pain

It involves delivering a train of magnetic pulses, 5 at each time, to the brain. In the present study, we are using the same method to treat severe pain due to nerve conditions. You will be given up to 1000 pulses in total over the spine in the lower back (Spinal Magnetic Stimulation or SMS). Each train will be given in 10-second intervals. You will have SMS on a single day. You will be given SMS pulses at 1 or 10 per second. No stimulation will be given over the head.

You will be assessed before and after the study for up to 1 week. Your usual medical treatment will be continued

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Key information

Age range

20 year–80 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 3

Primary location

Singapore General Hospital

Singapore, 169608

About this study

You must be aware of that this is a placebo-controlled trial. This means that you may either receive real SMS or sham SMS. The latter involves a harmless process of ineffective stimulation, designed for comparison with real SMS. Whether you receive either form of treatment will be assigned randomly, and there will be a 50% chance of being assigned to either.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • All with neuropathic lower limb pain

Exclusion criteria

  • Contraindications to magnetic stimulation

Treatment and study plan

magnetic stimulation

Device

SMS was delivered with a repetitive magnetic stimulator connected to a figure of eight coil capable of delivering a maximum output of 2 Tesla per pulse. The coil measured 90 mm in each wing and was centered over the surface landmark corresponding to the cauda equina region. SMS was performed with the patient lying comfortably in the prone position and a soft pillow supported the lower abdomen. The coil was placed flat over the back with the handle pointing cranially. Each patient on active treatment received 200 trains of 5 pulses delivered at 10 Hz, at an interval of 5 s between each train. As this was a pilot study, each only received 1000 pulses in a single session.

Magnetic Stimulation with tilted coil

Device

The placebo arm consisted of 'sham' SMS delivered with the coil angled vertically and one of the wing edges in contact with the stimulation point. As this coil type allows maximum magnetic flux at the center of the intersection, we believe minimum or no stimulation was effected at the edge of the coil in contact with the patient. Stimulation parameters and duration were unchanged in this arm.

Primary outcomes

  1. Subjective pain score measurements

    Time frame: 4 days

    NAS score

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Singapore General Hospital

Other

Registry information

Official study title

A Randomized Placebo-controlled Trial on the Use of Repetitive Spinal Magnetic Stimulation as a Therapeutic Option in Patients With Intractable Neuropathic Pain of the Lower Limbs

Important dates

Study start
2006
Primary completion
2010
Study completion
2010
First posted
Mar 6, 2007
Registry last updated
Mar 31, 2010

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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