• Min Cheol Chang, Yun-Woo Cho, Da Hyun Ahn, and Do Kyung Hee KH Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Veterans Health Service Medical Center, Seoul, Korea. Electronic address: khdo79@gmail.com..
• Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, College of Medicine, Yeungnam University, Daegu, Korea.
• World Neurosurg. 2018 Apr 1; 112: e140-e144.

ObjectiveMany treatment techniques have been used for refractory lumbar facet joint pain; however, their efficacy has been controversial. In this study, we investigated the clinical efficacy and safety of intra-articular pulsed radiofrequency for the treatment of refractory lumbar facet joint pain in patients with low back pain.MethodsTwenty patients with refractory lumbar facet joint pain were recruited, and each patient was treated via intra-articular pulsed radiofrequency. The treatment effects were measured with a numerical rating scale, and the technical accuracy of intra-articular pulsed radiofrequency treatment was evaluated independently by 2 radiologists. Any adverse events or complications also were checked.ResultsWe performed intra-articular pulsed radiofrequency treatment at 48 levels of the lumbar facet joints in 20 patients (5 men and 15 women; mean age, 64.50 ± 10.65 years) with refractory lumbar facet joint pain. Pain scores were significantly reduced at 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months after treatment (P < 0.05). The face validity revealed good intraarticular pulsed radiofrequency results in all 20 patients, without any serious adverse effects.ConclusionsTreatment using intra-articular pulsed radiofrequency is an alternative to other techniques in patients with refractory lumbar facet joint pain.Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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