Korean J Pain.  2012 Jul;25(3):155-160. 10.3344/kjp.2012.25.3.155.

Results of Intradiscal Pulsed Radiofrequency for Lumbar Discogenic Pain: Comparison with Intradiscal Electrothermal Therapy

• Fukui S
• Nitta K
• Iwashita N
• Tomie H
• Nosaka S
• Rohof O

• KMID: 2278149
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3344/kjp.2012.25.3.155

Abstract

BACKGROUND
We have developed an intradiscal pulsed radiofrequency (Disc PRF) technique, using Diskit II(R) needles (NeuroTherm, Wilmington, MA, USA), as a minimally invasive treatment option for chronic discogenic low back pain (LBP). The purpose of this study was to compare the representative outcomes of Disc PRF and Intradiscal Electrothermal Therapy (IDET) in terms of pain relief and reduction of disability.
METHODS
Thirty-one patients with chronic discogenic LBP who underwent either Disc PRF (n = 15) or IDET (n = 16) were enrolled in the study. A Diskit II(R) needle (15-cm length, 20-gauge needle with a 20-mm active tip) was placed centrally in the disc. PRF was applied for 15 min at a setting of 5 x 50 ms/s and 60 V. The pain intensity score on a 0-10 numeric rating scale (NRS) and the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ) were assessed pretreatment and at 1, 3, and 6 months post-treatment.
RESULTS
The mean NRS was significantly improved from 7.2 +/- 0.6 pretreatment to 2.5 +/- 0.9 in the Disc PRF group, and from 7.5 +/- 1.0 to 1.7 +/- 1.5 in the IDET group, at the 6-month follow-up. The mean RMDQ also showed significant improvement in both the Disc PRF group and the IDET group at the 6-month follow-up. There were no significant differences in the pretreatment NRS and RMDQ scores between the groups.
CONCLUSIONS
Disc PRF appears to be an alternative to IDET as a safe, minimally invasive treatment option for patients with chronic discogenic LBP.

Keyword

intervertebral disc degeneration; Intradiscal Electrothermal Therapy; low back pain; pulsed radiofrequency treatment

MeSH Terms

Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Intervertebral Disc Degeneration
Low Back Pain
Needles
Pulsed Radiofrequency Treatment
Pyrazoles
Surveys and Questionnaires
Pyrazoles

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Intradiscal pulsed radiofrequency (Disc PRF) procedures. Lateral view and anteroposterior (AP) view show that the Diskit II® needle is positioned in the L4/5 and the active part of the needle is completely inside the disc.

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  Fig. 2 Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) scores pre-procedure and at 1, 3, and 6 months post-treatment in the Disc PRF and IDET groups. Data are presented as median and lower limit, 25th, 75th, and upper limit percentiles. Wilcoxon signed-rank test and Mann-Whitney U test. *P < 0.01. NS: not significant.

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  Fig. 3 Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ) scores pre-procedure and at 1, 3, and 6 months post-treatment in the Disc PRF and IDET groups. Data are presented as median and lower limit, 25th, 75th, and upper limit percentiles. Wilcoxon signed-rank test and Mann-Whitney U test. *P < 0.01. NS: not significant.

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