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Pulsed Radiofrequency Treatment: Evidence for and Applications in Chronic Pain
Thanawut Jitsinthunun1, Caixia Li2, Tony Kwun-Tung Ng3
1Department of Anesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Thailand.
Pain Physician
|December 3, 2025
Summary
Pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) offers a safe, non-ablative neuromodulation for chronic pain, effectively treating neuropathic conditions like radicular pain and postherpetic neuralgia with minimal risks. Further research will optimize PRF parameters and expand its applications for long-term pain relief.
Area of Science:
- Neuromodulation
- Pain Management
- Regenerative Medicine
Background:
- Pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) is an emerging neuromodulatory technique for pain management.
- It is increasingly recognized as a nondestructive alternative to conventional radiofrequency ablation (RFA).
- PRF shows potential benefits for various chronic pain conditions, especially peripheral neuropathic pain.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the fundamental principles of PRF.
- To summarize mechanisms of action, evidence, and clinical applications of PRF in chronic pain.
- To provide a comprehensive overview of PRF for pain management.
Main Methods:
- A narrative review of existing literature.
- Comprehensive literature search conducted on PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar up to 2024.
- Inclusion of various study types: case reports, RCTs, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses.
Main Results:
- PRF demonstrates efficacy in neuropathic pain, including radicular pain and postherpetic neuralgia.
- Evidence supports PRF for trigeminal neuralgia, occipital neuralgia, cervicogenic headache, chronic migraine, and other pain conditions.
- Emerging applications like intraarticular and transcutaneous PRF show promise, with potential enhancements from modified PRF settings.
Conclusions:
- PRF is a safe, non-ablative neuromodulation technique.
- It effectively manages neuropathic pain, offering long-term relief with minimal risks.
- Further research is required to optimize PRF parameters and broaden its clinical applications.
