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Treating Phantom Limb Pain Using Continuous Peripheral Nerve Blocks: A Department of Defense Funded Multicenter Study
NCT01824082 · View on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
Study Summary
When a limb is traumatically severed, pain perceived in the part of the body that no longer exists often develops. This is called "phantom limb" pain, and is different from "stump" pain, which is pain within the part of the limb that remains intact. Unfortunately, phantom pain resolves in only 16% of people, with the rest experiencing this pain for the remainder of the lives. There is currently no reliable treatment for phantom limb pain. The exact reason that phantom limb pain occurs is unclear, but when a nerve is cut-as happens with a traumatic amputation-changes occur in the brain and spinal cord that actually worsen with increasing phantom pain. These abnormal changes may often be corrected by putting local anesthetic-termed a "peripheral nerve block"-on the injured nerve, keeping any "bad signals" from reaching the brain, with resolution of the phantom limb pain. However, when the nerve block ends after a few hours, the phantom pain returns. But, this demonstrates that the brain abnormalities-and phantom pain-that occur with an amputation may be dependent upon the "bad" signals being sent from the injured nerve(s), suggesting that a very long peripheral nerve block-lasting many days rather than hours-may permanently reverse the abnormal changes in the brain, and provide lasting relief from phantom pain. Until recently, extending a peripheral nerve block beyond 16 hours was unrealistic. However, a treatment option called a "continuous peripheral nerve block" is now available. This technique involves the placement of a tiny tube-smaller than a piece of spaghetti-through the skin and next to the nerves supplying the amputated limb. The tiny tube may be placed with minimal discomfort in about 15 minutes. Numbing medicine called local anesthetic is then infused through the tube, blocking any signals that the injured nerve sends to the spinal cord and brain. Using a small, portable infusion pump, this prolonged nerve block may be provided in individuals' own homes
Conditions Studied
Interventions
- DRUG Perineural infusion [continuous peripheral nerve block(s)]
Study Locations (4)
California
- Veteran's Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System — Palo Alto
- University of California, San Diego, Hillcrest Medical Center — San Diego
Maryland
- Walter Reed Army National Medical Center — Bethesda
Ohio
- Cleveland Clinic — Cleveland
Trial Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Enrollment Target | 144 participants |
| Start Date | 2013-12-01 |
| Est. Completion | 2020-10 |
| Phase | Phase 4 |
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Full Details on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗What the Registry Record Tells You About NCT01824082
The ClinicalTrials.gov registry entry for NCT01824082 describes a study currently listed as completed. It is categorized as Phase 4, which is the standard way researchers label where a study sits along the investigational pathway from early safety work through later efficacy and post-marketing evaluation. The registered enrollment target is 144 participants, a figure that helps gauge the scale of data the investigators plan to collect. The listed sponsor is University of California, San Diego, which has 823 total studies on file at ClinicalTrials.gov, and sponsors are the parties responsible for study design, oversight, and regulatory filings.
The record links to 1 condition, with Phantom Limb Pain appearing as the primary indexed condition, and to 1 intervention — of which Perineural infusion [continuous peripheral nerve block(s)] is the first listed. Interventions can include drugs, devices, procedures, behavioral programs, or observational arms, and each is tracked as a separate registry field so that downstream queries can filter accurately. When a trial lists multiple interventions, it usually reflects a multi-arm design or a comparison protocol rather than a single treatment being tested in isolation. The brief summary published in the registry is the clearest source of protocol intent and should be read before drawing conclusions from any sidebar tags.
Geographic footprint matters for practical reasons: NCT01824082 reports 4 study locations spanning 3 distinct geographic areas — top geographies include California, Maryland, Ohio. A larger site network tends to correlate with broader recruitment capacity, but it does not imply anything about study quality, and site-level enrollment status can diverge from the overall registry status shown above. Every data point on this page comes from the public ClinicalTrials.gov dataset and is reproduced here for reference only; it is not a medical recommendation, an endorsement of the sponsor, or an invitation to enroll. Verify current status, eligibility criteria, and contact details directly at ClinicalTrials.gov, and discuss any participation decision with your own healthcare provider.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is clinical trial NCT01824082 about?
NCT01824082 is a clinical study titled "Treating Phantom Limb Pain Using Continuous Peripheral Nerve Blocks: A Department of Defense Funded Multicenter Study". When a limb is traumatically severed, pain perceived in the part of the body that no longer exists often develops. This is called "phantom limb" pain, and is different from "stump" pain, which is pain within the part of the limb that remains intact. Unfortunately, phantom pain resolves in only 16% o...
What is the current status of trial NCT01824082?
This trial is currently completed. It is a Phase 4 study. The enrollment target is 144 participants. The study started on 2013-12-01. Estimated completion is 2020-10.
What conditions does trial NCT01824082 study?
This clinical trial studies the following conditions: Phantom Limb Pain. These conditions were identified from the trial registry and reflect the primary focus areas of the research.
What interventions are being tested in trial NCT01824082?
The interventions under investigation include: Perineural infusion [continuous peripheral nerve block(s)] (DRUG). Each intervention is being evaluated for safety and efficacy as part of this clinical study.
Who is sponsoring clinical trial NCT01824082?
This trial is sponsored by University of California, San Diego, which has 823 total clinical trials registered on ClinicalTrials.gov. The sponsor is responsible for the study's design, funding, and regulatory compliance.
Where is trial NCT01824082 being conducted?
This trial has 4 study locations across California, Maryland, Ohio. Contact the study sites directly through ClinicalTrials.gov for enrollment availability.
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