We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress
Sign In
Advertise with Us

Download Mobile App




Pulsed Radiofrequency Relieves Acute Back Pain and Sciatica

By HospiMedica International staff writers
Posted on 12 Dec 2018
Print article
Image: Image of a herniated disc before treatment and at one-month follow-up (Photo courtesy of RSNA).
Image: Image of a herniated disc before treatment and at one-month follow-up (Photo courtesy of RSNA).
Pulsed radiofrequency (pRF) is effective for patients with acute or subacute neuroradicular lower back pain unresponsive to usual care, according to a new study.

Researchers at Sapienza University (Rome, Italy) conducted a randomized prospective trial involving 260 patients with acute or subacute neuroradicular low back pain, who were assigned to either pRF treatment performed using a needle-electrode equipped with a probe tip directed to the symptomatic dorsal root ganglion under computerized tomography (CT) guidance (128 patients), or to CT-guided steroid injection of the same anatomical target (120 patients). All patients received one to three sessions of therapy, applied for 10 minutes.

The results revealed that at one year follow-up, both groups reported a linear reduction in median visual analogue scale (VAS) pain and disability scores, but patients who underwent pRF obtained significantly greater overall improvements, as well as significant reduction in leg pain. The probability of perceived recovery was 95% and 61% in the pRF and injection-only groups, respectively. The study was presented at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA), held during November 2018 in Chicago (IL, USA).

“The results of the study are superior to those typically reported for usual care strategies and injections, and may help a substantial number of patients with sciatic disk compression whose symptoms do not benefit from conservative therapy,” said senior author and study presenter Professor Alessandro Napoli, MD, PhD. “Pulsed radiofrequency creates a nerve modulation, significantly reducing inflammation and its associated symptoms. When pulsed radiofrequency is followed by steroid injection, the result is longer lasting and more efficacious than injection only.”

Lumbar disk herniation is a common, often debilitating, condition that occurs when the disks nucleus pulposus bulges through a tear in the exterior layer, pressuring the nerve root ganglion. Herniated disks are often the source of sciatica, a pain that radiates down from the lower back into the leg. Conservative treatment options range from pain medications to corticosteroids injected directly into the affected area of the spine. Those who do not respond may require surgery.

Related Links:
Sapienza University

Gold Member
SARS‑CoV‑2/Flu A/Flu B/RSV Sample-To-Answer Test
SARS‑CoV‑2/Flu A/Flu B/RSV Cartridge (CE-IVD)
Gold Member
Solid State Kv/Dose Multi-Sensor
AGMS-DM+
Silver Member
Compact 14-Day Uninterrupted Holter ECG
NR-314P
New
Forceps
BiClamp LAP

Print article

Channels

Critical Care

view channel
Image: Researchers have developed an advanced shear-thinning hydrogel for aneurysm repair (Photo courtesy of TIBI)

New Hydrogel Features Enhanced Capabilities for Treating Aneurysms and Halting Progression

Aneurysms can develop in blood vessels in different body areas, often as a result of atherosclerosis, infections, inflammatory diseases, and other risk factors. These conditions lead to chronic inflammation,... Read more

Patient Care

view channel
Image: The newly-launched solution can transform operating room scheduling and boost utilization rates (Photo courtesy of Fujitsu)

Surgical Capacity Optimization Solution Helps Hospitals Boost OR Utilization

An innovative solution has the capability to transform surgical capacity utilization by targeting the root cause of surgical block time inefficiencies. Fujitsu Limited’s (Tokyo, Japan) Surgical Capacity... Read more

Health IT

view channel
Image: First ever institution-specific model provides significant performance advantage over current population-derived models (Photo courtesy of Mount Sinai)

Machine Learning Model Improves Mortality Risk Prediction for Cardiac Surgery Patients

Machine learning algorithms have been deployed to create predictive models in various medical fields, with some demonstrating improved outcomes compared to their standard-of-care counterparts.... Read more

Point of Care

view channel
Image: The new eye-safe laser technology can diagnose traumatic brain injury (Photo courtesy of 123RF)

Novel Diagnostic Hand-Held Device Detects Known Biomarkers for Traumatic Brain Injury

The growing need for prompt and efficient diagnosis of traumatic brain injury (TBI), a major cause of mortality globally, has spurred the development of innovative diagnostic technologies.... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2024 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.