Ultrasound-Guided Cooled Radiofrequency Ablation of the Genicular Nerves: A Technique Paper

Abstract

Aim: Cooled radiofrequency ablation (CRFA) has demonstrated efficacy in the management of knee pain caused by osteoarthritis. A typical procedure involves fluoroscopic placement of internally cooled radiofrequency probes to ensure the probes are located near target genicular nerves. Patients & methods: A new technique was developed to perform CRFA using ultrasound (US) guidance. Patient outcomes were reported using a telephone survey. Results: Ablation procedures were successfully performed using US guidance. A total of 51 patients were retrospectively identified for telephone screening. A total of 22 patients completed the telephone questionnaire. There were no safety concerns identified and the majority of patients reported satisfactory outcomes. Conclusion: Patient outcomes demonstrate that US-guided CRFA procedures provide pain relief and functional improvement. Further studies are needed to compare the efficacy of US-guided CRFA to fluoroscopy-guided CRFA procedures.

Video Abstract

Keywords::

• cooled radiofrequency ablation
• knee osteoarthritis
• nonoperative pain management
• opioid free

Financial & competing interests disclosure

This study was funded in part by Avanos Medical, Inc. D Lash, E Frantz and MFB Hurdle have consulted for Avanos Medical, Inc. The authors have no other 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 apart from those disclosed.

Medical writing assistance was provided by Eric Moorhead (Avanos Medical, Inc.).

Ethical conduct of research

This was an IRB approved investigator initiated retrospective study. Patients were retrospectively identified and contacted via telephone and surveyed for pain-related patient using a telephone recruitment screening script.

Additional information

Funding

This study was funded in part by Avanos Medical, Inc. D Lash, E Frantz and MFB Hurdle have consulted for Avanos Medical, Inc. The authors have no other 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 apart from those disclosed