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BFA Treatment of Pain

Primary Purpose

Musculoskeletal Pain, Acute Pain

Status
Completed
Phase
Not Applicable
Locations
United States
Study Type
Interventional
Intervention
Auricular semi-permanent (ASP gold) needles
Intradermal (long) needles using J-type No. 2 (.18)x 15mm
Pyonex needles (Seirin Yellow 0.2 x 0.6mm)
Sponsored by
Paul Crawford
About
Eligibility
Locations
Arms
Outcomes
Full info

About this trial

This is an interventional treatment trial for Musculoskeletal Pain focused on measuring acupuncture, battlefield acupuncture

Eligibility Criteria

18 Years - undefined (Adult, Older Adult)All SexesDoes not accept healthy volunteers

**Patients must be able to get care at Nellis Air Force Base (a military installation) in order to participate in this study**

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Active duty and DoD Beneficiaries aged 18 years or older
  • Acute (0-4 days) musculoskeletal injury
  • Injuries eligible for inclusion include all acute non-fracture related musculoskeletal injuries of the axial or peripheral skeleton.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Taking any opioid medications daily
  • Rheumatologic and autoimmune conditions which may be creating pain, such as rheumatoid arthritis, advanced osteoarthritis, or spinal stenosis
  • Contra-indication to needle use including known bleeding disorder and psychogenic issues related to needle use (e.g., needle-phobia)
  • Evidence or history of clinically significant immune deficiency, hematological, oncological, renal, endocrine, pulmonary, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, hepatic, psychiatric, neurologic, or severe allergic disease (including to metals and adhesive tapes) which could interfere with this study
  • Individuals with progressive radiating pain with motor-sensory changes (including weakness or numbness) related to their presenting pain complaint
  • Women who are pregnant, may be pregnant, or attempting to become pregnant

Sites / Locations

  • Mike O'Callaghan Military Medical Center

Arms of the Study

Arm 1

Arm 2

Arm 3

Arm Type

Experimental

Experimental

Experimental

Arm Label

Auricular semi-permanent (ASP gold) needles

Intradermal (long) needles using J-type No. 2 (.18)x 15mm

Pyonex needles (Seirin Yellow 0.2 x 0.6mm)

Arm Description

Outcomes

Primary Outcome Measures

Effectiveness: scale
Defense and Veterans Pain Rating Scale (DVPRS).DVPRS is an 11-point numerical rating scale with 0 indicating no pain and 10 indicating severe pain. It has been confirmed for reliability and validity in measuring both acute and chronic pain, and is currently the standard for pain measurement throughout DoD and VA health systems. The DVPRS demonstrates linear scale qualities allowing parametric methods to be used.
Needle Tolerance: questionnaire
Will be measured using an in-house developed questionnaire. It employs 5-point ordinal scales to evaluate 12 post-therapy experiences or perception encompassing adverse outcomes, inconveniences, and satisfaction

Secondary Outcome Measures

Full Information

First Posted
June 29, 2020
Last Updated
January 13, 2022
Sponsor
Paul Crawford
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1. Study Identification

Unique Protocol Identification Number
NCT04464954
Brief Title
BFA Treatment of Pain
Official Title
Pilot Study: Effect of Battlefield Acupuncture Needle Selection on Symptom Relief and Patient Tolerance in the Treatment of Pain
Study Type
Interventional

2. Study Status

Record Verification Date
January 2022
Overall Recruitment Status
Completed
Study Start Date
November 1, 2020 (Actual)
Primary Completion Date
April 20, 2021 (Actual)
Study Completion Date
April 20, 2021 (Actual)

3. Sponsor/Collaborators

Responsible Party, by Official Title
Sponsor-Investigator
Name of the Sponsor
Paul Crawford

4. Oversight

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product
No
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product
Yes
Product Manufactured in and Exported from the U.S.
No
Data Monitoring Committee
No

5. Study Description

Brief Summary
The aim of this pilot study is to conduct an unblinded pilot randomized clinical study on the effectiveness and tolerability of auricular semi-permanent (ASP) vs intradermal (long), and pyonex needles in Battlefield Acupuncture (BFA) for the treatment of pain.
Detailed Description
Begin to identify which of 3 needles is most efficacious for BFA treatment of pain; Identify patient experiences and tolerance of three commonly used acupuncture needles at Mike O'Callaghan Military Medical Center at Nellis Air Force Base. This study will compare 30 patients (10 per needling group) and will serve as a pilot study for a potential larger randomized control trial (RCT) across multiple MTFs in the Defense Health Agency (DHA) to establish better BFA care practices. We will be recruiting a total of 39 subjects, which is inclusive of a 30% drop out rate to accommodate those that may be lost to the study or have missing data to achieve a final total of 30 subjects.

6. Conditions and Keywords

Primary Disease or Condition Being Studied in the Trial, or the Focus of the Study
Musculoskeletal Pain, Acute Pain
Keywords
acupuncture, battlefield acupuncture

7. Study Design

Primary Purpose
Treatment
Study Phase
Not Applicable
Interventional Study Model
Parallel Assignment
Masking
None (Open Label)
Allocation
Randomized
Enrollment
31 (Actual)

8. Arms, Groups, and Interventions

Arm Title
Auricular semi-permanent (ASP gold) needles
Arm Type
Experimental
Arm Title
Intradermal (long) needles using J-type No. 2 (.18)x 15mm
Arm Type
Experimental
Arm Title
Pyonex needles (Seirin Yellow 0.2 x 0.6mm)
Arm Type
Experimental
Intervention Type
Device
Intervention Name(s)
Auricular semi-permanent (ASP gold) needles
Intervention Description
ASP semi-permanent Battlefield Acupuncture needles are semi-permanent needles that will remain in subject ears for 2-8 days and will be allowed to fall out on their own
Intervention Type
Device
Intervention Name(s)
Intradermal (long) needles using J-type No. 2 (.18)x 15mm
Intervention Description
Intradermal (long) needles will remain in subject ears for 15-30 minutes and will be removed by a member of the study staff.
Intervention Type
Device
Intervention Name(s)
Pyonex needles (Seirin Yellow 0.2 x 0.6mm)
Intervention Description
Pyonex needles will remain in subject ears for 2-21 days and allowed to fall out on their own.
Primary Outcome Measure Information:
Title
Effectiveness: scale
Description
Defense and Veterans Pain Rating Scale (DVPRS).DVPRS is an 11-point numerical rating scale with 0 indicating no pain and 10 indicating severe pain. It has been confirmed for reliability and validity in measuring both acute and chronic pain, and is currently the standard for pain measurement throughout DoD and VA health systems. The DVPRS demonstrates linear scale qualities allowing parametric methods to be used.
Time Frame
Four repeated measurements of change in the DVRPS: preacupuncture (Day 0), post-acupuncture (10-15 minutes post needle insertion), 24 hours and one week post-therapy.
Title
Needle Tolerance: questionnaire
Description
Will be measured using an in-house developed questionnaire. It employs 5-point ordinal scales to evaluate 12 post-therapy experiences or perception encompassing adverse outcomes, inconveniences, and satisfaction
Time Frame
Three repeated measurements of change in needle tolerance: post-acupuncture (10-15 minutes post needle insertion), 24 hours and 1 week posttherapy.

10. Eligibility

Sex
All
Minimum Age & Unit of Time
18 Years
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
No
Eligibility Criteria
**Patients must be able to get care at Nellis Air Force Base (a military installation) in order to participate in this study** Inclusion Criteria: Active duty and DoD Beneficiaries aged 18 years or older Acute (0-4 days) musculoskeletal injury Injuries eligible for inclusion include all acute non-fracture related musculoskeletal injuries of the axial or peripheral skeleton. Exclusion Criteria: Taking any opioid medications daily Rheumatologic and autoimmune conditions which may be creating pain, such as rheumatoid arthritis, advanced osteoarthritis, or spinal stenosis Contra-indication to needle use including known bleeding disorder and psychogenic issues related to needle use (e.g., needle-phobia) Evidence or history of clinically significant immune deficiency, hematological, oncological, renal, endocrine, pulmonary, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, hepatic, psychiatric, neurologic, or severe allergic disease (including to metals and adhesive tapes) which could interfere with this study Individuals with progressive radiating pain with motor-sensory changes (including weakness or numbness) related to their presenting pain complaint Women who are pregnant, may be pregnant, or attempting to become pregnant
Facility Information:
Facility Name
Mike O'Callaghan Military Medical Center
City
Nellis Air Force Base
State/Province
Nevada
ZIP/Postal Code
89191
Country
United States

12. IPD Sharing Statement

Plan to Share IPD
No
IPD Sharing Plan Description
We do not plan on sharing data.
Citations:
Citation
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PubMed Identifier
19174438
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Madsen MV, Gotzsche PC, Hrobjartsson A. Acupuncture treatment for pain: systematic review of randomised clinical trials with acupuncture, placebo acupuncture, and no acupuncture groups. BMJ. 2009 Jan 27;338:a3115. doi: 10.1136/bmj.a3115.
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Citation
Vickers AJ, Vertosick EA, Lewith G, MacPherson H, Foster NE, Sherman KJ, Irnich D, Witt CM, Linde K; Acupuncture Trialists' Collaboration. Acupuncture for Chronic Pain: Update of an Individual Patient Data Meta-Analysis. J Pain. 2018 May;19(5):455-474. doi: 10.1016/j.jpain.2017.11.005. Epub 2017 Dec 2.
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Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Decision Summary: Proposed Decision Memo for Acupuncture for Chronic Low Back Pain (CAG-00452N). Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services. July 15, 2019. https://www.cms.gov/medicare-coverage-database/details/nca-proposed-decisionmemo. aspx?NCAId=295
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Pain management task force final report77. (2010). Office of the Army Surgeon General. Retrieved from http://www.armymedicine.army.mil/reports/Pain_Management_Task_Force.pdf.
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Citation
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Defense and Veterans Center for Integrative Pain Management.(2016). Retrieved from http://www. dvcipm.org/.
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BFA Treatment of Pain

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