Evaluation of an effectiveness and safety of the electroacupuncture in the management of intractable neuropathic pain: A prospective, open-labeled, randomized, cross-over clinical trial

BACKGROUND: There is no sufficient evidence on the effectiveness of acupuncture for neuropathic pain. This protocol describes a study that aims to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of electroacupuncture combined with conventional medicine for patients with intractable neuropathic pain, when compared with conventional medicine alone.

METHODS/DESIGN: This study is a prospective, open-labeled, randomized, cross-over clinical trial. A total of 40 patients with neuropathic pain who had a numeric rating scale (NRS) score of over 4 despite receiving conventional treatment for more than 3 months will be enrolled. Participants will receive conventional treatment for neuropathic pain (treatment C) or treatment C combined with 12 additional sessions of electroacupuncture treatment (treatment A) for 6 weeks. Participants will be randomly assigned to 1 of the 2 sequence groups (AC and CA group) with a 1:1 allocation. The differences of responder in the composite efficacy outcomes, which consist of the NRS, Brief Pain Inventory-Short Form (BPI-SF) pain subscale, and global assessment at 6 weeks after randomization will be examined as the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes include differences in the NRS, the Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire, BPI-SF, Fatigue Severity Scale, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Medical Outcomes Study Sleep Scale, global assessment, EQ-5D, and incremental cost-effective ratio at 6 and 15 weeks after randomization. Adverse events, vital signs, and physical examinations will be recorded to evaluate safety.

DISCUSSION: The study protocol for this trial will provide up-to-date evidence on the effectiveness and safety of electroacupuncture for patients with intractable neuropathic pain. The results will be disseminated through a peer-reviewed journal and conference presentations.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinical Research Information Service, ID: KCT0003615. Registered on March 12, 2019. https://cris.nih.go.kr/cris/search/search_result_st01_kren.jsp?seq=13410& ltype=&rtype=.