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Complementary Therapies in Spinal Fusion Patients

A Pilot Study of the Effectiveness of Complementary Therapies to Reduce Pain in Spinal Fusion Patients

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT02409615
Enrollment
30
Registered
2015-04-07
Start date
2014-08-31
Completion date
2017-03-27
Last updated
2024-08-27

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Idiopathic Scoliosis

Keywords

Complementary therapies, Hypnosis, Healing Touch

Brief summary

In this pilot study, our central hypothesis is that two CAM modalities, hypnosis and healing touch as adjunct therapies to the standard of care, will improve analgesic use for post operative pain. In this pilot study the investigators will randomize 30 adolescents undergoing spinal fusion for idiopathic scoliosis to two test groups: Hypnosis with Pain Management Standard of Care for Post Op Pain, Healing Touch with Pain Management Standard of Care, and a control group (Pain Management Standard of Care only).

Detailed description

Female adolescents with the diagnosis of idiopathic scoliosis requiring surgery will be approached by a member of the research team at the pre-surgical evaluation visit to participate in the study. Randomization will be done at the time of the pre-surgical visit. Microsoft Excel will be used to generate a random group assignment table to one of the following groups: CONTROL GROUP: Standard Pain Management for Idiopathic Posterior Spinal Fusion Surgery HYPNOSIS GROUP: Standard Pain Management for Idiopathic Posterior Spinal Fusion and Hypnosis intervention consisting of induction to achieve a state of focused attention with heightened receptivity for acceptable suggestions targeting relaxation, comfort and healing. HEALING TOUCH GROUP: Standard Pain Management for Idiopathic Posterior Spinal Fusion Surgery and Healing Touch intervention (Chakra Connection, Magnetic Clearing) Protocol: 1. Potential patients identified by Orthopedic surgery schedule and review of electronic medical record (EMR) for eligibility. 2. Randomization of participants into group, CPASS anxiety scale and cortisol level obtained for all participants at preoperative visit. 3. Day of surgery: Hypnosis intervention or Healing Touch intervention prior to surgical procedure by research staff 4. Intra-operative procedure: Hypnosis participant will have taped Hypnosis script during surgical procedure; Healing Touch participant will receive one minute of intentional healing at designated time each hour by Healing Touch Practitioner. Cortisol level will be obtained on all participants. 5. PACU procedure: Healing Touch intervention or Hypnosis intervention by research staff. 6. POD #1 until discharge: daily Healing Touch or Hypnosis intervention by research staff 7. POD # 2: CPASS anxiety scale and cortisol level obtained on all participants 8. Post-op analgesic regimen: Morphine PCA \> 50 kg (demand 1 mg, 10 minute lockout, basal rate 0.5 mg/hr) and Morphine PCA \< 40-49 kg (demand 0.8 mg, 10 minute lockout, basal rate 0.4 mg/hr), benzodiazepine, gabapentin, ketorolac and clonidine per standard protocol for all participants. 9. Pain scores (self-report), vital signs, opioid consumption, side effects, day of ambulation, transition to oral analgesics will be collected from EMR until day of discharge. 10. 4-week Postoperative visit: CPASS anxiety scale, cortisol level and pill count obtained on all participants. Methods: Statistical Analysis: Descriptive Statistics: Standard Descriptive Statistics will be used to describe the outcomes, demographic and independent variables of interest pre- and post-intervention, overall and by intervention group. Changes in outcomes will also be calculated and descried. For continuous variables means, medians and ranges will be produced, while frequencies and percentages will be produced for categorical variables. Means, standard deviations, medians and ranges will be computed for measured continuous variables; marginal distributions will be used for categorical factors. Graphical methods including histograms, scatterplots, and boxplots, will be used in order to understand aspects of data quantity and examine assumptions (such as normality) underlying statistical models. The primary outcome is decrease in opioid consumption as well as reported pain and anxiety scores. We will compare difference in pain pre- to post- between the two intervention and control groups, using ANOVA. Since data will be collected at multiple points pre- and post-intervention, and some randomly missing data expected, the primary analysis will employ generalized estimating equations (GEEs). The GEEs models will be adjusted for baseline characteristics, such as age, gender, race and any important clinical characteristics. GEEs will also be used to compare the changes in reported pain and analgesic use between the three groups.

Interventions

A technique called Wakeful Hypnosis that involves suggestions for healing given to a person while in a normal state of consciousness

Healing Touch An energery based therapy that uses light body or above body touch to help balance the energy field and energy centers of the body to restore harmony within the body for greater healing.

Sponsors

Healing Touch Worldwide Foundation
CollaboratorOTHER
Nemours Children's Clinic
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
FEMALE
Age
12 Years to 17 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

1. Females, ages 12 - 17 2. Diagnosis of idiopathic scoliosis

Exclusion criteria

1. Patients with chronic or severe disease conditions requiring spinal fusion surgery. 2. Children with profound mental disabilities or developmental delay not allowing them to voluntarily assent to participate.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Postoperative Pain (Total Opioid Use)up to postoperative day 4Total Opioid use will be measured in mg/kg/hour daily until discharge, and at postoperative follow-up visit. Postoperative time in PACU starts on admission to PACU until discharged to general nursing care floors. Postoperative Day #0 (POD #0) start on the day of surgery from the time the patient is discharged from the PACU to 7:00 AM the following morning. POD #1 is from 07:00 the day after surgery to the following morning (24 hour period) at 07:00. POD #2, POD #3 are the following 24 hour periods until time of discharge. The first outpatient postoperative appointment was four weeks after surgery.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Pain Scoreup to postoperative day 4Average pain score utilizing Visual Analog Scale which is a self report pain scale from 0 - 10 with a score of 0 indicating no report of pain and a score of 10 indicating the worst pain imaginable.
Cortisol Levelup to 4-week postoperativelyCortisol levels obtained at 4 points - pre-operative surgical evaluation visit, intra-operative, POD #2, 4-week postoperative follow-up clinic visit. Cortisol is a hormone released by the adrenal glands. Cortisol mainly helps regulate the body's response to stress. For most tests, the normal ranges are: 6 a.m. to 8 a.m.: 10 to 20 micrograms per deciliter (mcg/dL). Around 4 p.m.: 3 to 10 mcg/dL. Normal ranges can vary from lab to lab, time to time and person to person.
Child Pain Anxiety Symptoms Scale (CPASS)up to 4 weeks postoperativelyChild Pain Anxiety Symptoms Scale (CPASS) is a validated 20-item self-report tool measuring pain anxiety in adolescents undergoing major surgical procedures and obtained on all participants at 3 points - pre-surgical evaluation, POD #2 and 4-week postoperative follow-up visit. Total score is ranged from 0-100. CPASS scores ranging from 0 to 34 indicated mild pain anxiety; 35 to 67 indicated moderate pain anxiety; 68 to 100 indicated severe pain anxiety.

Countries

United States

Participant flow

Participants by arm

ArmCount
Hypnosis Group
Hypnosis Group: ten participants will receive Hypnosis therapy in addition to the standard postoperative pain management protocol Hypnosis Therapy: A technique called Wakeful Hypnosis that involves suggestions for healing given to a person while in a normal state of consciousness
10
Healing Touch Group
Healing Touch Group: nine participants will receive Healing Touch therapy in addition to the standard postoperative pain management protocol Healing Touch Therapy: Healing Touch An energery based therapy that uses light body or above body touch to help balance the energy field and energy centers of the body to restore harmony within the body for greater healing.
10
Control Group
Control Group; ten participants will receive standard postoperative pain management protocol
10
Total30

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicHypnosis GroupHealing Touch GroupControl GroupTotal
Age, Continuous15.1 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 1.37
15.0 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 1.7
13.9 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 0.74
14.67 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 1.4
Cobb Angle53.9 degrees
STANDARD_DEVIATION 7.23
54.9 degrees
STANDARD_DEVIATION 1.65
57.5 degrees
STANDARD_DEVIATION 11.64
55.43 degrees
STANDARD_DEVIATION 8.31
Race and Ethnicity Not Collected0 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
10 Participants10 Participants10 Participants30 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
EG001
affected / at risk
EG002
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
0 / 100 / 100 / 10
other
Total, other adverse events
1 / 100 / 100 / 10
serious
Total, serious adverse events
1 / 100 / 100 / 10

Outcome results

Primary

Postoperative Pain (Total Opioid Use)

Total Opioid use will be measured in mg/kg/hour daily until discharge, and at postoperative follow-up visit. Postoperative time in PACU starts on admission to PACU until discharged to general nursing care floors. Postoperative Day #0 (POD #0) start on the day of surgery from the time the patient is discharged from the PACU to 7:00 AM the following morning. POD #1 is from 07:00 the day after surgery to the following morning (24 hour period) at 07:00. POD #2, POD #3 are the following 24 hour periods until time of discharge. The first outpatient postoperative appointment was four weeks after surgery.

Time frame: up to postoperative day 4

Population: opioid comsumption calculated in morphine equivalents - mg/kg/hour

ArmMeasureGroupValue (MEAN)
Hypnosis GroupPostoperative Pain (Total Opioid Use)PACU opioid use0.041 mg/kg/hr
Hypnosis GroupPostoperative Pain (Total Opioid Use)Postoperative Day 00.038 mg/kg/hr
Hypnosis GroupPostoperative Pain (Total Opioid Use)Postoperative Day 10.019 mg/kg/hr
Hypnosis GroupPostoperative Pain (Total Opioid Use)Postopertive Day 20.012 mg/kg/hr
Hypnosis GroupPostoperative Pain (Total Opioid Use)Postoperative Day 30.012 mg/kg/hr
Hypnosis GroupPostoperative Pain (Total Opioid Use)Postoperative Day 40.02 mg/kg/hr
Healing Touch GroupPostoperative Pain (Total Opioid Use)Postoperative Day 40.016 mg/kg/hr
Healing Touch GroupPostoperative Pain (Total Opioid Use)PACU opioid use0.048 mg/kg/hr
Healing Touch GroupPostoperative Pain (Total Opioid Use)Postopertive Day 20.017 mg/kg/hr
Healing Touch GroupPostoperative Pain (Total Opioid Use)Postoperative Day 30.011 mg/kg/hr
Healing Touch GroupPostoperative Pain (Total Opioid Use)Postoperative Day 00.042 mg/kg/hr
Healing Touch GroupPostoperative Pain (Total Opioid Use)Postoperative Day 10.023 mg/kg/hr
Control GroupPostoperative Pain (Total Opioid Use)Postoperative Day 00.042 mg/kg/hr
Control GroupPostoperative Pain (Total Opioid Use)Postoperative Day 10.021 mg/kg/hr
Control GroupPostoperative Pain (Total Opioid Use)Postoperative Day 40.014 mg/kg/hr
Control GroupPostoperative Pain (Total Opioid Use)Postopertive Day 20.012 mg/kg/hr
Control GroupPostoperative Pain (Total Opioid Use)PACU opioid use0.054 mg/kg/hr
Control GroupPostoperative Pain (Total Opioid Use)Postoperative Day 30.011 mg/kg/hr
Secondary

Child Pain Anxiety Symptoms Scale (CPASS)

Child Pain Anxiety Symptoms Scale (CPASS) is a validated 20-item self-report tool measuring pain anxiety in adolescents undergoing major surgical procedures and obtained on all participants at 3 points - pre-surgical evaluation, POD #2 and 4-week postoperative follow-up visit. Total score is ranged from 0-100. CPASS scores ranging from 0 to 34 indicated mild pain anxiety; 35 to 67 indicated moderate pain anxiety; 68 to 100 indicated severe pain anxiety.

Time frame: up to 4 weeks postoperatively

ArmMeasureGroupValue (MEAN)Dispersion
Hypnosis GroupChild Pain Anxiety Symptoms Scale (CPASS)POD #2 CPASS score41.7 units on a scaleStandard Deviation 23.92
Hypnosis GroupChild Pain Anxiety Symptoms Scale (CPASS)Preoperative CPASS score19.6 units on a scaleStandard Deviation 10.32
Hypnosis GroupChild Pain Anxiety Symptoms Scale (CPASS)Four week postoperative CPASS score21.1 units on a scaleStandard Deviation 16.07
Healing Touch GroupChild Pain Anxiety Symptoms Scale (CPASS)POD #2 CPASS score41.33 units on a scaleStandard Deviation 26.63
Healing Touch GroupChild Pain Anxiety Symptoms Scale (CPASS)Preoperative CPASS score18.0 units on a scaleStandard Deviation 11.44
Healing Touch GroupChild Pain Anxiety Symptoms Scale (CPASS)Four week postoperative CPASS score15.0 units on a scaleStandard Deviation 9.72
Control GroupChild Pain Anxiety Symptoms Scale (CPASS)Preoperative CPASS score30.3 units on a scaleStandard Deviation 13.58
Control GroupChild Pain Anxiety Symptoms Scale (CPASS)Four week postoperative CPASS score36.89 units on a scaleStandard Deviation 16.22
Control GroupChild Pain Anxiety Symptoms Scale (CPASS)POD #2 CPASS score48.6 units on a scaleStandard Deviation 11.39
Secondary

Cortisol Level

Cortisol levels obtained at 4 points - pre-operative surgical evaluation visit, intra-operative, POD #2, 4-week postoperative follow-up clinic visit. Cortisol is a hormone released by the adrenal glands. Cortisol mainly helps regulate the body's response to stress. For most tests, the normal ranges are: 6 a.m. to 8 a.m.: 10 to 20 micrograms per deciliter (mcg/dL). Around 4 p.m.: 3 to 10 mcg/dL. Normal ranges can vary from lab to lab, time to time and person to person.

Time frame: up to 4-week postoperatively

ArmMeasureGroupValue (MEAN)Dispersion
Hypnosis GroupCortisol LevelPreoperative coristol level4.36 mcg/dLStandard Deviation 1.88
Hypnosis GroupCortisol LevelIntraoperative cortisol level2.94 mcg/dLStandard Deviation 2.95
Hypnosis GroupCortisol LevelPOD #2 cortisol level7.82 mcg/dLStandard Deviation 3.71
Hypnosis GroupCortisol LevelFour week postoperative cortisol level6.09 mcg/dLStandard Deviation 2.54
Healing Touch GroupCortisol LevelFour week postoperative cortisol level8.2 mcg/dLStandard Deviation 3.2
Healing Touch GroupCortisol LevelPreoperative coristol level6.07 mcg/dLStandard Deviation 2.39
Healing Touch GroupCortisol LevelPOD #2 cortisol level3.80 mcg/dLStandard Deviation 2.48
Healing Touch GroupCortisol LevelIntraoperative cortisol level3.28 mcg/dLStandard Deviation 3.67
Control GroupCortisol LevelFour week postoperative cortisol level6.05 mcg/dLStandard Deviation 1.69
Control GroupCortisol LevelIntraoperative cortisol level3.25 mcg/dLStandard Deviation 4.75
Control GroupCortisol LevelPOD #2 cortisol level9.07 mcg/dLStandard Deviation 11.55
Control GroupCortisol LevelPreoperative coristol level5.03 mcg/dLStandard Deviation 1.34
Secondary

Pain Score

Average pain score utilizing Visual Analog Scale which is a self report pain scale from 0 - 10 with a score of 0 indicating no report of pain and a score of 10 indicating the worst pain imaginable.

Time frame: up to postoperative day 4

Population: One participant was withdrawn from the study. Day of discharge varied among participants

ArmMeasureGroupValue (MEAN)Dispersion
Hypnosis GroupPain ScorePain score - preoperative0.11 numeric pain scoreStandard Deviation 0.33
Hypnosis GroupPain ScorePain Score - POD #37.12 numeric pain scoreStandard Deviation 1.46
Hypnosis GroupPain ScorePain Score - POD #44.0 numeric pain scoreStandard Deviation 0
Hypnosis GroupPain ScorePain Score - POD #25.56 numeric pain scoreStandard Deviation 1.48
Hypnosis GroupPain ScorePain Score - PACU5.0 numeric pain scoreStandard Deviation 2.24
Hypnosis GroupPain ScorePain Score - POD #05.2 numeric pain scoreStandard Deviation 1.97
Hypnosis GroupPain ScorePain Score - POD #14.78 numeric pain scoreStandard Deviation 1.69
Healing Touch GroupPain ScorePain Score - POD #25.0 numeric pain scoreStandard Deviation 1.7
Healing Touch GroupPain ScorePain Score - PACU4.7 numeric pain scoreStandard Deviation 3.58
Healing Touch GroupPain ScorePain Score - POD #35.8 numeric pain scoreStandard Deviation 2.15
Healing Touch GroupPain ScorePain score - preoperative0.5 numeric pain scoreStandard Deviation 1.58
Healing Touch GroupPain ScorePain Score - POD #05.18 numeric pain scoreStandard Deviation 2.17
Healing Touch GroupPain ScorePain Score - POD #45.8 numeric pain scoreStandard Deviation 1.34
Healing Touch GroupPain ScorePain Score - POD #14.70 numeric pain scoreStandard Deviation 1.99
Control GroupPain ScorePain Score - POD #44.5 numeric pain scoreStandard Deviation 3.36
Control GroupPain ScorePain Score - PACU6.2 numeric pain scoreStandard Deviation 1.98
Control GroupPain ScorePain score - preoperative1.5 numeric pain scoreStandard Deviation 2.27
Control GroupPain ScorePain Score - POD #05.36 numeric pain scoreStandard Deviation 2
Control GroupPain ScorePain Score - POD #25.0 numeric pain scoreStandard Deviation 1.3
Control GroupPain ScorePain Score - POD #37.8 numeric pain scoreStandard Deviation 1.64
Control GroupPain ScorePain Score - POD #14.33 numeric pain scoreStandard Deviation 1.73

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026