Trans-Auricular Stimulation for Postoperative Inflammation in Spine Surgery

Recruiting now · Not applicable · Has a placebo group

Conditions studied: Spinal Fusion, Hyperglycemia, Postoperative Pain Management, Postoperative Care, Spine Disease, Neurologic Deficits, Neurological Disorder, Inflammation, Spine Condition, Spinal (Fusion) Surgery, Cytokine Levels, Spine Fusion

In brief

This study is a randomized controlled trial that will evaluate the effect of non-invasive auricular vagal nerve stimulation on inflammatory markers, glycemic control, postoperative pain, and inflammation-related clinical outcomes after long-segment spinal fusion surgeries when compared to current accepted management.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT07218133

Run by

Alexander T. Yahanda

People needed

50

Starts

2025-10-08

Expected to finish

2026-12-01

Last updated by the study team

2026-02-20

Who can join

Age: 18 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Long-segment spinal fusions (defined as constructs spanning at least L2-pelvis for thoracolumbar fusions or C2-T2 for cervical fusions)
• Ability to undergo a reliable neurologic examination and pain assessments

You may not qualify if…

• Patients <18 years of age
• Shorter-segment spinal fusions than those described above
• Undergoing current active cancer therapy
• Undergoing treatment with immunosuppressive drugs
• Additional spinal surgery within past 6 months
• Sustained bradycardia or presence of pacemaker
• History of substance abuse

Where it is running

• Washington University School of Medicine — St Louis, Missouri, United States (enrolling)

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

Trial information comes from ClinicalTrials.gov and is refreshed daily. TrialsForMe does not provide medical care and does not run the studies it lists.