Cervical Epidural Pressure Measurement

Neck Pain Clinical Trial

Official title: Cervical Epidural Pressure Measurement: Comparison in the Prone and Sitting Positions

Status Enrolling by invitation

Clinical Trial Summary

Cervical epidural steroid injections

• The hanging drop (HD) technique is commonly used for identifying the cervical epidural space.

• The hanging drop (HD) technique is using the negative pressure in the epidural space.

• The subject of debate whether the epidural space exhibits negative pressure.

• In a previous study, EP might be influenced by body position

• No report or peer-reviewed literature to demonstrate the cervical epidural pressure (CEP) now.

The hypothesis of this study

• There is a difference in the cervical epidural pressure between in the prone and sitting positions

• To evaluate this hypothesis, CEPs in the prone and sitting groups were measured and compared in the two groups.

• Using a closed pressure measurement system

• Under fluoroscopic guidance.

Clinical Trial Description

Cervical epidural steroid injections (CESIs)

• For the conservative management of head, neck, and upper extremity pain

• Important to identify the epidural space for minimizing the chance of a dural puncture injection

• Dural puncture injection makes CESIs prone to rare but catastrophic complication like permanent spinal cord injury

The hanging drop (HD) technique

• Commonly used for identifying the cervical epidural space

• Using the negative pressure in the epidural space

• The subject of debate whether the epidural space exhibits negative pressure

In previous studies using a closed pressure measurement systems

• The epidural pressure (EP) was commonly positive at the thoracic level in the lateral decubitus position.

• EP was consistently negative only in the sitting position.

• EP might be influenced by body position.

• The patient should be sitting for using the HD technique.

No report or peer-reviewed literature to demonstrate the cervical epidural pressure (CEP) now.

The hypothesis of this study

• There is a difference in the cervical epidural pressure between in the prone and sitting positions

• To evaluate this hypothesis, CEPs in the prone and sitting groups were measured and compared in the two groups.

• Using a closed pressure measurement system

• Under fluoroscopic guidance. ;

Study Design

Allocation: Randomized, Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment, Masking: Open Label

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Head Pain
• Neck Pain
• Upper Extremity Pain

• NCT number: NCT01009385
• Study type: Interventional
• Source: Seoul National University Bundang Hospital
• Status: Enrolling by invitation
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: October 2009
• Completion date: November 2009