Abstract

NEBREDA, C. et al. Comparative study of the thermal or conventional radiofrequency and pulsed radiofrequency in the treatment of pain in the lumbar facet origin arthropathy. Rev. Soc. Esp. Dolor [online]. 2016, vol.23, n.4, pp.170-174. ISSN 1134-8046.  https://dx.doi.org/10.20986/resed.2016.3417/2016.

Objective: To compare the effects of Radiofrequency Thermal (RFT) versus Pulsed Radiofrequency (RFP) on the middle branch of the dorsal ramus of the spinal nerve in the treatment of pain in the lumbar facet arthropathy. Design: Prospective, comparative, randomized and blind. Material and methods: We, initially, chose twenty patients of a total sample of 60 patients with chronic low back pain originating from the facet joints without improvement after conservative treatment of more than three months. Patients were randomly assigned 30 RFT and RFP 30. Results: Results 12 RFT group and 8 were evaluated in the group of pulsed radiofrequency. No difference was observed in demographic characteristics between the two groups. Three patients dropped out. In the RFT group, a statistically significant decrease in Visual Analog Scale (VAS) at every point tracking (p < 0.005) was observed. Neither group showed improvement in disability index (ODI). Although not statistically significant, sustained decrease in ODI figures in the group of RFT was observed. In the group of RFP were not observed reduction in the numbers of VAS and ODI. Conclusions: The RFT as suitable and safe for the treatment of pain originating from the lumbar facet joints, not to the RFP.

Keywords : Pain lumbar; radiofrequency thermal; pulsed radiofrequency; lumbar facet joint syndrome lumbar facet.

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