• Tim J Lamer, Jolene Smith, Bryan C Hoelzer, William D Mauck, Wenchun Qu, and Halena M Gazelka.
• *Division of Pain Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota lamer.tim@mayo.edu.
• Pain Med. 2016 Sep 1; 17 (9): 1634-7.

ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to determine whether the energy generated by an active radiofrequency (RF) cannula adjacent to lumbar spine hardware could result in heating of the hardware.DesignProspective study.SettingTertiary care medical center.SubjectsSix patients with lumbar facet joint pain at the level adjacent to lumbar spine fusion hardware were studied.MethodsA total of 10 lumbar medial branch nerve radiofrequency lesion procedures were performed on six patients. A temperature probe was placed on the fusion hardware to continuously monitor the temperature of the hardware throughout the RF procedure.ResultsThe temperature of the fusion hardware increased in six of the 10 RF lesion procedures. During two of the procedures, the temperature rose rapidly to 42°C, at which time the procedure was ceased at that level.ConclusionThis study demonstrated that radiofrequency lesioning to treat symptomatic facet joint pain in patients who have adjacent posterior lumbar fusion hardware may result in heat energy being transferred to the adjacent hardware. This may increase the risk of injury to the patient. Monitoring for a temperature increase is easily accomplished by inserting a temperature probe onto the surface of the hardware.© 2016 American Academy of Pain Medicine. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

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