New device zaps back pain without drugs?
NCT ID NCT03312010
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study tested a device that sends mild electrical pulses to nerves near the spine to treat long-term back pain. 38 adults with chronic back pain (with or without leg pain) were randomly assigned to receive either the active stimulation or a sham (inactive) treatment. The goal was to see if the device could safely reduce pain and improve daily function.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
-
Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
-
38 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
-
Mar 2018
- Finished
-
Dec 2022
- Lead sponsor
-
A company
The lead sponsor is a pharmaceutical, biotech, or medical-device company.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
-
18 years and older
- Sex
-
Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
-
Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion criteria * Subject is ≥ 18 years of age at time of informed consent; * Subjects have been diagnosed with predominant, chronic, intractable back pain with a VAS \> 50 mm (on a 100-mm scale); * Subjects have been diagnosed with predominant, chronic, intractable back pain for at least 6 months before study participation; * Based on the medical opinion of the Principal Investigator, subject has a stable pain medication regiment; * Based on the medical opinion of the Principal Investigator, there is no evidence of anatomic abnormalities that could jeopardize the placement of the device or pose a hazard to the subject; * Subject is willing to undergo surgical implant procedure, attend visits as scheduled, and comply with the study requirements; * Subject is willing and able to operate the patient programmer, recharging equipment and has the ability to undergo study assessments and provide accurate responses; * Based on the opinion of the implanter, subject is a good surgical candidate for the implant procedure; * Subject is male or non-pregnant female; * Subject is deemed to be neuro-psycho-socially appropriate for implantation therapies based of the assessment of a clinical psychologist and principal investigator, using face-to-face encounters and the psychological testing described in the measures; * Patient is capable of giving informed consent. Exclusion criteria * Obvious mechanical instability related to pain (diagnosed by imaging taken within the past 6 months); * Unresolved malignancies in the last six months; * Subject has post-herpetic neuralgia (shingles); * Subject has an active systemic infection or is immune-compromised; * Based on the medical opinion of the Principal Investigator the subject has other psychological conditions (e.g., psychosis, suicidal ideation, borderline personality disorder, somatization, narcissism), other health conditions (e.g., substance abuse, another chronic condition requiring the regular use of opioid medication), or other legal concerns that would preclude his/her enrollment in the study or potentially confound the results of the study; * Subject is currently enrolled in or plans to enroll in any concurrent drug and/or device study while participating in this study; * Insulin-dependent diabetic who is not controlled through diet and/or medication (determined by the physician) or non-insulin dependent diabetic who is not well controlled through diet and/or medication; * Bleeding complications or coagulopathy issues; * Pregnant/lactating or not using adequate birth control; * A life expectancy of less than one year; * Any active implanted device whether turned off or on; * A previous PNS experience for the treatment of back pain; * Conditions requiring Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) evaluation or diathermy procedures.
Get updates
Get notified about this study
Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for Chronic back and leg pain are added.
Genom att skicka in godkänner du våra Användarvillkor
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
AZ Delta
Roeselare, 8800, Belgium
-
GZA Sint-Augustinus
Wilrijk, Antwerpen, 2610, Belgium
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
- A phone call could ease chronic pain and depression in older veterans
- Sound waves aimed at the brain could quiet chronic pain
- Can new criteria better spot a spine disease that mimics back pain?
- Laser device aims to zap away back pain without drugs
- Yoga tested as a Drug-Free solution for chronic back pain
- New procedure targets nerves to ease stubborn back pain