Pulsed radiofrequency treatment of articular branches of femoral and obturator nerves for chronic hip pain

Figures & data

Figure 1 Fluoroscopic image showing radiofrequency cannula toward the articular branches of the femoral nerve (A) and the obturator nerve (B).

Table 1 Demographics of both study groups

Characteristics	PRF (N=15)	Conservative (N=14)	P
	Mean (SD)	Mean (SD)
Age (years)	65.53 (11.7)	67.71 (11.8)	NS
Sex			NS
Female (%)	9 (60.0)	10 (71.4)
Male (%)	6 (40.0)	4 (28.6)
Location			NS
Left (%)	6 (40.0)	3 (21.4)
Right (%)	7 (46.7)	6 (42.9)
Both (%)	2 (13.3)	5 (35.7)

Abbreviations: NS, not significant; PRF, pulsed radiofrequency; SD, standard deviation.

Table 2 Comparison of outcomes between both study groups

Characteristics	PRF (N=15)	Conservative (N=14)	P
	Mean ± SD	Mean ± SD
VAS scores
Baseline	6.7±0.6	6.7±0.8	0.981
1 week	2.2±1.5	5.1±1.0	0.001
Score change	−4.5±1.4	−1.6±0.9	0.001
4 weeks	2.4±1.4	5.1±1.7	0.001
Score change	−4.3±1.4	−1.6±1.3	0.002
12 weeks	3.0±1.8	4.7±2.0	0.017
Score change	−3.7±2.0	−2.0±1.7	0.030
Oxford hip scores
Baseline	28.2±5.2	27.9±3.9	0.93
1 week	18.7±4.9	26.2±4.6	0.001
Score change	9.5±1.5	1.7±3.3	0.001
4 weeks	19.8±4.3	26.2±4.9	0.001
Score change	8.4±3.4	1.7±3.2	0.001
12 weeks	21.1±5.1	25.8±5.9	0.04
Score change	7.1±4.7	2.1±4.0	0.01
Pain medications
1 week	1.4±1.1	2.4±0.5	0.010
4 weeks	1.5±1.0	2.4±0.4	0.007
12 weeks	1.4±1.1	2.3±0.5	0.010

Abbreviations: PRF, pulsed radiofrequency; SD, standard deviation; VAS, visual analog scale.

Figure 2 CONSORT diagram for patient recruitment, allocation, and follow-up.

Abbreviations: CONSORT, Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials; PRF, pulsed radiofrequency.

Figure 3 Longitudinal changes in mean (± SD) VAS scores.

Notes: Patients treated by PRF are compared with patients treated conservatively. Asterisk indicates P<0.05 for between-group comparisons.

Abbreviations: PRF, pulsed radiofrequency; SD, standard deviation; VAS, visual analog scale.

Figure 4 Longitudinal changes in mean (± SD) Oxford hip scores.

Notes: Patients treated by PRF are compared with patients treated conservatively. Asterisk indicates P<0.05 for between-group comparisons.
Abbreviations: OHS, Oxford hip scores; PRF, pulsed radiofrequency; SD, standard deviation.