Hands-On therapy may spare kids from ear tube surgery
NCT ID NCT07639775
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study tests whether osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) — a gentle, hands-on therapy — can reduce the need for ear tube surgery in children with chronic or recurrent ear infections. Two hundred children aged 6 months to 7 years will receive either OMT or a placebo manual treatment once a week for four weeks. The goal is to see if OMT improves ear drainage and function enough to avoid surgery.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT)
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could offer a non-surgical option for children with chronic ear infections, potentially avoiding the need for ear tube surgery.
- What could go wrong
- This is an early-stage trial with no phase designation, and the placebo control may also show effects. The treatment is non-invasive, but results may not be strong enough to change surgical recommendations.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Blue Ridge Ear, Nose and Throat
Lynchburg, Virginia, 24501, United States
-
Collaborative Healthplex
Lynchburg, Virginia, 24502, United States
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