← Back to Clinical Trials
Recruiting NCT06100172

NCT06100172 Transcutaneous Auricular Neurostimulation After Lumbar Surgery

◆ AI Clinical Summary
Plain-language summary for patients
Clinical Trial Summary
NCT ID NCT06100172
Status Recruiting
Phase
Sponsor University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Condition Pain, Postoperative
Study Type INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment 20 participants
Start Date 2024-10-29
Primary Completion 2027-10

Eligibility & Interventions

Sex All sexes
Min Age 18 Years
Max Age 85 Years
Study Type INTERVENTIONAL
Interventions
Sparrow Ascent Transcutaneous Auricular Neurostimulation (tAN)Sham Control Device

Eligibility Fast-Check

Enter your details for a quick preliminary check. This does not replace medical advice.

What to Expect as a Participant

You will actively receive the study intervention — which may be a drug, biologic, device, or procedure.

This trial targets 20 participants in total. It began in 2024-10-29 with a primary completion date of 2027-10.

⚠ This information is for research awareness only. Always consult your physician before joining any clinical trial. Participation is voluntary and you may withdraw at any time.

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study, entitled "Delivering Transcutaneous Auricular Neurostimulation as an Adjunct Non-Opioid Pain Management Therapy for Patients Undergoing Lumbar Surgery", is to demonstrate whether transcutaneous auricular neurostimulation (tAN) can non-invasively reduce the perception of pain in patients undergoing lumbar surgery. tAN is placed on and around the ear to non-invasively stimulate branches of the vagus and trigeminal nerves and modulate specific brain regions associated with pain.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria: 1. Medically cleared to undergo a lumbar spine surgery, either spinal fusion with or without multilevel laminectomies, or lumbar multilevel laminectomies alone. 2. 18-85 years of age 3. English Proficiency 4. Participants must be able to provide informed consent and function at an intellectual level sufficient for study requirements Exclusion Criteria: 1. Current evidence of an uncontrolled and/or clinically significant medical condition 2. History of bleeding disorders or coagulopathy 3. History of seizures or epilepsy 4. History of neurological diseases or traumatic brain injury 5. Use of illegal recreational drugs 6. Presence of devices, e.g. pacemakers, cochlear prosthesis, neuro-stimulators 7. Use of acupuncture within 4 weeks of surgery 8. Grossly abnormal external ear anatomy or active ear infection 9. Women of childbearing potential, not using effective contraception per investigator judgment or not willing to comply with contraception for the duration of the study 10. Females who are pregnant or lactating 11. Any other significant disease or disorder which, in the opinion of the Investigator, may either put the participants at risk because of participation in the trial, or may influence the result of the trial, or the participant's ability to participate in the trial

Contact & Investigator

Central Contact

Alex Valadka, MD

✉ alex.valadka@utsouthwestern.edu

📞 214-645-2300

Principal Investigator

Alex Valadka, MD

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can join the NCT06100172 clinical trial?

This trial is open to participants of all sexes, aged 18 Years or older, up to 85 Years, studying Pain, Postoperative. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria are listed in the Eligibility Criteria section. Always confirm your eligibility with the research team before applying.

Is NCT06100172 currently recruiting?

Yes, NCT06100172 is actively recruiting participants. Contact the research team at alex.valadka@utsouthwestern.edu for enrollment information.

Where is the NCT06100172 trial being conducted?

This trial is being conducted at Dallas, United States.

Who is sponsoring the NCT06100172 clinical trial?

NCT06100172 is sponsored by University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. The principal investigator is Alex Valadka, MD at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. The trial plans to enroll 20 participants.

Related Trials

ClinicalMetric — Independent clinical trial intelligence platform. Not affiliated with NIH, ClinicalTrials.gov, the U.S. FDA, or any pharmaceutical company, hospital, or clinical research organization. Trial data is sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Do not make any treatment, enrollment, or health decisions based solely on information found here — always consult a qualified healthcare professional. Full Disclaimer  ·  Last Reviewed: July 2026  ·  Data Methodology