Pulse-dose radiofrequency for knee osteoartrithis

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Pain Management
• Minimally Invasive Procedures

Background:

• Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a significant cause of disability in the elderly population.
• Chronic knee pain often becomes refractory to conservative treatment modalities, necessitating alternative therapeutic options.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of pulse-dose radiofrequency (PDRF) for managing chronic knee pain in patients who have not responded to conservative therapies.
• To assess the long-term effectiveness and safety of PDRF in this patient group.

Main Methods:

• Forty patients with chronic knee pain refractory to conservative treatment underwent PDRF.
• A 20-gauge cannula was inserted into the knee joint space under fluoroscopic guidance, followed by RF needle insertion.
• PDRF was administered using 1,200 pulses at 45 V with a 20-ms duration and a 480-ms silent phase.

Main Results:

• Mean VAS pain scores significantly decreased from 6.8 pre-procedure to 1.8 at 1 week post-PDRF (p < 0.05).
• Pain relief was sustained at 1 year, with mean VAS scores of 2.3 (p < 0.05).
• Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index scores indicated improved quality of life at 6 months and 1 year post-treatment (p < 0.05).
• No complications were reported in any patients.

Conclusions:

• PDRF is an effective and reliable technique for the palliative management of chronic knee pain in patients with knee OA.
• The procedure demonstrates significant pain reduction and functional improvement with a favorable safety profile.