A Study to Investigate the Efficacy of Pain Reduction With Cryoneurolysis Compared With Sham-treatment in Adults With Trigeminal Neuralgia

Launched by ST. OLAVS HOSPITAL · Jan 9, 2024

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

The CryoGem Trial is a research study exploring a new treatment called cryoneurolysis, which uses freezing to help reduce the severe facial pain caused by trigeminal neuralgia. This condition causes intense pain in the face and can be very challenging to manage. In the trial, participants will be randomly assigned to receive either the actual freezing treatment or a fake treatment (sham), without knowing which one they are receiving. Over the first four weeks, they will keep a daily diary to track their pain levels, and after that, everyone will have the chance to receive the treatment they need for up to two years. The main goal of the study is to see how many people experience a significant reduction in their pain.

To be eligible for this study, participants must be at least 18 years old and have been diagnosed with trigeminal neuralgia, experiencing a certain level of pain frequently over the past month. They should also have tried at least two specific medications for their pain without success. Those interested in participating will need to meet specific health criteria, and they will be monitored closely throughout the study. This research aims to determine if cryoneurolysis could be a safe and effective option for treating trigeminal neuralgia, potentially offering new hope for those struggling with this painful condition.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • 1. Participant must be 18 years at the time of signing the informed consent
• • 2. A diagnosis of primary (classic and idiopathic) trigeminal neuralgia affecting the mandibular and/or maxillary division, verified by a neurologist
• • 3. Ability to subclassify the trigeminal neuralgia according to the The International Classification of Headache Disorders, 3rd edition, i.e. sufficient magnetic resonance (MR) evaluation is mandatory
• • 4. History of minimum mean of three trigeminal neuralgia related pain paroxysms per day last 4 weeks
• • 5. History of minimum average daily pain intensity NRS score (ADP) of 4 to10 last 4 weeks
• • 6. In baseline minimum average daily pain intensity NRS score (ADP) of 4 to 10
• • 7. In baseline minimum mean of three trigeminal neuralgia related pain paroxysms per day
• 8. Treatment refractory as defined in this study as failure to respond, pending an adequate trial in the opinion of the investigator, contraindications or intractable side effect to one of two medications:
• • 1. Carbamazepine
• • 2. Oxcarbazepine
• • 9. Unaltered prophylactic TN medication regime 2 weeks prior to baseline, and be willing to keep regime unaltered during the baseline and the blinded study period.
• • 10. Be an appropriate candidate for the study intervention required in this study on the basis of the clinical judgment of the investigator
• • 11. Capable of giving signed informed consent as which includes compliance with the requirements and restrictions listed in the informed consent form (ICF) and in this protocol.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • 1. Diagnosed with demyelinating inflammatory disorders such as e.g. multiple sclerosis.
• • 2. Other pain conditions, not intended to be treated in this study, that in the opinion of the investigator could interfere with study procedures, accurate pain reporting, and/or confound evaluation of study endpoints.
• • 3. High probability of neurological deterioration due to other medical conditions, that in the opinion of the investigator may confound outcome assessment.
• • 4. Patients exhibiting a high degree of comorbidity and/or frailty associated with reduced life expectancy or high likelihood of hospitalization, at the discretion of the investigator.
• • 5. Other coexisting current medical conditions, including, but not limited to, bleeding diathesis and thrombophilia, that presents excess procedural risk, in the opinion of the investigator.
• • 6. Have within 6 months of enrollment a significant untreated addiction to dependency- producing medications, alcohol, or illicit drugs.
• • 7. Abnormal pain behavior, inappropriate medication use and/or unresolved psychiatric illness, that in the opinion of the investigator are significant enough to impact perception of pain, compliance with intervention and/or ability to evaluate treatment outcome.
• • 8. Subject has had previous radiofrequency ablation (including non-lesional pulsed radiofrequency), balloon compression, gamma knife, or chemical denervation (e.g. glycerol treatments) of the Gasserian ganglion.
• • 9. Subject has had previous radiofrequency ablation (including non-lesional pulsed radiofrequency), balloon compression, gamma knife, or chemical denervation (e.g. glycerol treatments) of a division or branch of the trigeminal nerve being targeted in this study.
• • 10. Facial anomaly or trauma which renders the planned procedure difficult.
• • 11. Subject currently has an active oral or dental abscess or a local infection at the site of injection based on present symptoms.
• • 12. Subject has been diagnosed with any major infectious processes such as osteomyelitis, or primary or secondary malignancies involving the face that have been active or required treatment in the past 6 months.
• • 13. Current participation in another treatment study
• • 14. Sensory deficits and/or pain configuration supporting, in the opinion of the neurologist, trigeminal neuropathy as more likely diagnosis.
• • 15. Patients with any kind of conductive implant with contraindication for nerve stimulation according to study innervation.