Background: Pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) is an efficacious treatment for patients with lumbosacral radicular pain, but the optimal radiofrequency parameters are inadequately described. We hypothesized that high-voltage radiofrequency therapy around the dorsal root ganglion can be more effective and enduring than the standard voltage PRF therapy.
Materials and methods: This was a prospective and randomized study. Patients were divided into two groups. In group 1 (high-voltage group), PRF was applied at 60 V to the patients. Patients in group 2 (low-voltage group) received PRF treatment at 45 V. The patients were evaluated using a numeric rating scale (NRS) and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). Evaluation scales were repeated before the intervention and at the first and sixth months after the treatment.
Results: The study included 41 analyzed patients. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups at the first-month NRS (p > 0.05). Sixth-month NRS scores were lower in the high-voltage group (p = 0.016). The groups showed no statistically significant differences in the one-month ODI scores (p > 0.05). When the NRS values were analyzed with linear regression, a positive correlation was found between the sixth-month NRS values and high-voltage PRF (odds ratio: 0.385; p = 0.013). Comparison of the treatment success in terms of time showed statistically significant results in both groups in the first and sixth months (p < 0.05).
Conclusions: The results of our study revealed that both low- and high-voltage PRF are effective. Because of the lower sixth-month NRS values in the high-voltage group and the similar complication rate, it was considered that high-voltage PRF can be a promising application.
Keywords: Chronic pain; dorsal root ganglion; high-voltage; lumbosacral; pulsed radiofrequency.
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