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Pulsed radiofrequency in chronic pain
Thibaut Vanneste1, Astrid Van Lantschoot, Koen Van Boxem
1Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Multidisciplinary Pain Center, Ziekenhuis Oost-Limburg, Genk, Belgium.
Current Opinion in Anaesthesiology
|July 13, 2017
Summary
Pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) offers a safe and effective treatment for chronic pain conditions like radicular pain, trigeminal neuralgia, and occipital neuralgia, with promising results for shoulder and knee pain management.
Area of Science:
- Pain Management
- Neuromodulation
- Minimally Invasive Procedures
Background:
- Pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) is gaining attention for chronic pain management.
- Growing body of literature supports its use in various pain indications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the literature on PRF for five specific chronic pain conditions.
- To assess the efficacy and safety of PRF in radicular pain, trigeminal neuralgia, occipital neuralgia, shoulder pain, and knee pain.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on PRF treatment for chronic pain.
- Analysis of efficacy, safety, and duration of effect across different indications.
Main Results:
- PRF is effective and safe for radicular pain at cervical and lumbar levels.
- PRF shows efficacy in trigeminal neuralgia and occipital neuralgia, outperforming steroid injections.
- Shoulder pain relief and improved mobility observed with PRF of the suprascapular nerve.
- Shorter duration of effect compared to conventional radiofrequency, but no reported neurological complications.
Conclusions:
- PRF is a valuable tool in managing chronic pain syndromes.
- The technique offers potential long-lasting pain relief without complications.
- Further high-quality randomized controlled trials are needed to optimize PRF parameters.
