Modic trial: Do osteoporosis therapies work for back pain?

The Modic trial is a randomised controlled trial which will investigate the effect of two different treatments (zoledronic acid, denosumab) for back pain associated with Modic changes, which are bright signals seen on MRI scans of the back.

Chronic back pain is common and debilitating, and can be difficult to treat. This study will determine whether treating patients with zoledronic acid or denosumab will improve back pain and the size of Modic changes over six months. These treatments are both currently approved for use in osteoporosis and fracture treatment but there have been no trials on back pain.

Study participants will receive one dose of study medication (zoledronic acid or denosumab or placebo). Recruitment for this trial is now complete.

This project is a participant based study