Journal
ARCHIVES OF PHYSICAL MEDICINE AND REHABILITATION
Volume 90, Issue 2, Pages 201-205Publisher
W B SAUNDERS CO-ELSEVIER INC
DOI: 10.1016/j.apmr.2008.07.021
Keywords
Outcome assessment (health care); Rehabilitation
Categories
Funding
- Workers Compensation Board of Alberta
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Objective: To assess the effect of radiofrequency denervation (RFD) on patients with chronic low back pain (LBP) of facet joint origin. Design: Prospective cohort Study. Setting: Interventional pain management program. Participants: Consecutive subjects (N =44; 10 1 facet joints) over 2 years with chronic refractory mechanical LBP of facet origin established by 2 local anesthetic blocks (medial branch +/- intra-articular) resulting in more than 50% pain relief. Intervention: RFD of the symptomatic lumbar facet joints. Main Outcome Measures: Self-reported pain intensity, frequency, bothersomeness, analgesic intake, satisfaction, disability, back pain-related costs, and employment twice prior to and at 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months post-RFD. Results: Post-RFD, significant improvements in pain, analgesic requirement, satisfaction, disability, and direct costs occurred. They peaked at 3 to 6 months and gradually diminished thereafter. Satisfaction with medical care and living with current symptoms improved similarly. Overall, satisfaction with the RFD procedure was high, and no complications were reported. Conclusions: RFD provides safe and significant short-term improvement in pain, analgesic requirements, function, satisfaction, and direct costs in patients with chronic LBP of facet origin.
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