Research Article

Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA

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Sergey S Tarima

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7542-1094

Division of Biostatistics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA

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Keith E Baynes

Department of Radiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA

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Matthew J Durand

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1416-1652

Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Cardiovascular, Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA

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Christopher A Yopp

Department of Anesthesiology, Division of Pain Management, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA

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Nicholas K Donohue

*Author for correspondence: Tel.: +1 414 805 7342;

E-mail Address: nkdonohue@mcw.edu

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6280-7158

Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA

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Published Online:9 Jun 2021https://doi.org/10.2217/pmt-2021-0019

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Abstract

Aim: To investigate the effect of knee osteoarthritis (OA) compartment location on pain relief following genicular radiofrequency ablation. Materials & methods: A retrospective chart review was performed on 62 patients. Visual analog scale scores at 3 and 6 months post procedure were compared with baseline and between compartment groups. Results: Pain significantly improved for all patients at 3 and 6 months (p < 0.001 and p = 0.005, respectively). Medial compartment OA was a significant predictor of improvement at 3 months (p = 0.042). Patellofemoral compartment OA was a significant predictor for a higher visual analog scale at 3 months (p = 0.018). Conclusion: Compartmental location of knee OA impacts pain relief following genicular radiofrequency ablation. Future protocols could target nerves based on which compartments are more affected on imaging.

Lay abstract

Aim: To investigate the effect of knee arthritis location on pain relief following planned nerve disruption using radiofrequency ablation (RFA). Materials & methods: This study analyzed existing records of 62 cases of patients who underwent an ablation procedure to the sensory nerves of the knee. On a scale from one to ten, pain after RFA at 3 and 6 months was compared with baseline and compared between arthritis location groups. Results: Pain decreased for all patients at 3 and 6 months. Inner knee arthritis was a predictor of pain improvement at 3 months. Arthritis of the kneecap was a predictor for worse pain at 3 months. Conclusion: Location of knee arthritis impacts pain relief following nerve disruption using RFA. Future protocols could target nerves based on arthritis location.

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Vol. 11, No. 6

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History

Received 9 March 2021

Accepted 7 May 2021

Published online 9 June 2021

Published in print November 2021

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Financial & competing interests disclosure

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Ethical conduct of research

The authors state that they have obtained appropriate institutional review board approval (Institutional Review Board of the Medical College of Wisconsin [IRB#: PRO00037039]) or have followed the principles outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki for all human or animal experimental investigations. In addition, for investigations involving human subjects, informed consent has been obtained from the participants involved.

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Pain relief following genicular nerve radiofrequency ablation: does knee compartment matter?

Abstract

Lay abstract

References