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Radiofrequency ablation for shoulder pain: an updated systematic review
Esha Jain1, Ian T O'Connor1, Justin K Tram2
1Department of Rehabilitation and Human Performance, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
Annals of Palliative Medicine
|July 11, 2024
Summary
Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) offers a promising treatment for chronic shoulder pain, demonstrating positive outcomes in pain reduction and functional improvement. RFA provides an alternative for patients unresponsive to conservative care or unsuitable for surgery.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedics
- Pain Management
- Minimally Invasive Procedures
Background:
- Chronic shoulder pain stems from various conditions like rotator cuff disorders, osteoarthritis, and instability.
- Current treatments include physical therapy, medications, injections, and surgery.
- Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is an emerging modality for chronic shoulder pain management.
Approach:
- A systematic review of PubMed, MEDLINE, and Cochrane Database was performed.
- Searched for "radiofrequency ablation" and "shoulder pain" in June 2023.
- Included studies published within the last 20 years.
Key Points:
- 29 studies were included from 396 initial articles.
- Primary outcomes assessed were pain reduction, duration of relief, function, and patient satisfaction.
- RFA effectiveness was compared against conservative treatments like physical therapy and corticosteroid injections.
Conclusions:
- Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) demonstrates positive outcomes for chronic shoulder pain.
- RFA serves as a viable treatment option for patients with persistent pain or those not candidates for surgery.
- Evidence supports RFA as a valuable addition to the treatment landscape for chronic shoulder pain.
