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Recruiting NCT07712406

Ultrasound-Guided Proximal Superior Cluneal Nerve Block for Superior Cluneal Nerve Entrapment

— Observational Superior Cluneal Nerve Entrapment Chronic Low Back Pain

For patients and families

In plain language

An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.

What is being studied
The protocol lists: Ultrasound-Guided Proximal Superior Cluneal Nerve Block.
Who it may be relevant to
Registry conditions: Superior Cluneal Nerve Entrapment, Chronic Low Back Pain. Basic parameters: 18 years — 75 years · All.
What needs checking
Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
Where it takes place
Turkey (Türkiye)
Next step
Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →

Unsure about the terms? Read our patient guide →

Official title

Clinical Outcomes of Ultrasound-Guided Proximal Superior Cluneal Nerve Block in Patients With Superior Cluneal Nerve Entrapment

Overview

Superior cluneal nerve entrapment (SCNE) is an underrecognized cause of chronic low back pain and gluteal pain that may mimic lumbar spine disorders. Ultrasound-guided proximal superior cluneal nerve block has increasingly been used in routine clinical practice .Diagnostic superior cluneal nerve block is commonly used to confirm the diagnosis, whereas ultrasound-guided proximal superior cluneal nerve block has emerged as a therapeutic option. This prospective observational cohort study aims to evaluate the clinical outcomes of ultrasound-guided proximal superior cluneal nerve block in patients with clinically diagnosed superior cluneal nerve entrapment who undergo the procedure as part of routine clinical care. Pain intensity, disability, and neuropathic pain characteristics will be assessed at baseline and during follow-up to evaluate treatment outcomes.

Detailed description

Superior cluneal nerve entrapment (SCNE) is an increasingly recognized cause of chronic low back pain that may be overlooked or misdiagnosed as lumbar radiculopathy or other degenerative lumbar disorders. Accurate diagnosis is essential because patients with SCNE may benefit from targeted peripheral nerve interventions rather than treatments directed at the lumbar spine.

Ultrasound-guided proximal superior cluneal nerve block has emerged as a practical technique for both diagnostic confirmation and therapeutic management of SCNE. Compared with landmark-based approaches, ultrasound guidance enables real-time visualization of relevant anatomical structures and standardized needle placement. Despite increasing clinical use, prospective evidence evaluating the clinical outcomes of this technique remains limited.

This prospective observational cohort study will enroll patients with clinically diagnosed superior cluneal nerve entrapment who undergo ultrasound-guided proximal superior cluneal nerve block as part of routine clinical care. Pain intensity, disability, and neuropathic pain characteristics will be evaluated at baseline and at 1- and 3-month follow-up visits using validated clinical outcome measures.

The primary objective is to evaluate changes in pain intensity following ultrasound-guided proximal superior cluneal nerve block. Secondary objectives include evaluating changes in disability and neuropathic pain characteristics after treatment and documenting the clinical outcomes of this intervention during routine practice.

Interventions

  • Procedure Ultrasound-Guided Proximal Superior Cluneal Nerve Block
    Ultrasound-guided proximal superior cluneal nerve block will be performed as part of routine clinical care in patients with clinically diagnosed superior cluneal nerve entrapment. The proximal superior cluneal nerve will be targeted using a standardized ultrasound-guided interfascial technique. A standardized injectate will be administered according to the study protocol. All procedures will be performed by an experienced pain physician using the same technique for all participants.

Primary outcome measures

  • Change in Pain Intensity [Time frame: Baseline, 1 month, and 3 months]
Secondary outcome measures (3)
  • Change in Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) Score [Time frame: Baseline, 1 month, and 3 months]
  • Douleur Neuropathique 4 (DN4) [Time frame: Baseline, 1 month, and 3 months]
  • Treatment Response [Time frame: 1 month and 3 months]

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion criteria

  • Age 18-75 years.
  • Chronic low back and/or gluteal pain persisting for at least 3 months.
  • Localized pain and/or tenderness over the posterior iliac crest.
  • At least 50% reduction in pain intensity following diagnostic superior cluneal nerve block.
  • Failure of conservative treatment.
  • Ability to provide written informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

  • Previous superior cluneal nerve surgery.
  • Active local or systemic infection.
  • Bleeding disorders or contraindications to the procedure.
  • Allergy to study medications.
  • Pregnancy.
  • Severe cognitive impairment or inability to complete study assessments.
  • Additional interventional pain procedures involving the affected region during follow-up.

Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.

Healthy volunteers: No

Study design

Observational model
Cohort

Study locations

Turkey (Türkiye) · 1 center
  • Gaziosmanpasa Research and Education Hospital — Gaziosmanpaşa

Publications

  • Bodner G, Platzgummer H, Meng S, Brugger PC, Gruber GM, Lieba-Samal D. Successful Identification and Assessment of the Superior Cluneal Nerves with High-Resolution Sonography. Pain Physician. 2016 Mar;19(3):197-202. PMID 27008294
  • Luo X, Zhao Y. Ultrasound-Guided Superior Cluneal Nerve Block: A Narrative Review. J Pain Res. 2024 May 22;17:1829-1836. doi: 10.2147/JPR.S462166. eCollection 2024. PMID 38799273
  • Nielsen TD, Moriggl B, Barckman J, Jensen JM, Kolsen-Petersen JA, Soballe K, Borglum J, Bendtsen TF. Randomized trial of ultrasound-guided superior cluneal nerve block. Reg Anesth Pain Med. 2019 May 6:rapm-2018-100174. doi: 10.1136/rapm-2018-100174. Online ahead of print. PMID 31061111

Identifiers

NCT: NCT07712406 · MEDIPOL-EC-846-2026

Primary sources (government registries)

View this study on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗