Study shows no benefit for RF denervation in back pain (MassDevice)
A team of researchers from the Netherlands evaluated three clinical trials involving 681 patients with chronic low back pain and found that radiofrequency denervation combined with exercise did not bring about a significant reduction of pain compared to exercise alone after 3 months.
Radiofrequency denervation is commonly used to treat chronic low back pain, but the team pointed out that evidence demonstrating its efficacy is lacking.
Researchers conducted 3 trials to assess the effectiveness of the minimal interventional procedure. People eligible for the trial included those who had chronic low back pain, a positive diagnostic block at the facet joints, sacroiliac joints or a combination of facet joints, sacroiliac joints or intervertebral disks. The selected participants were unresponsive to conservative care, the team reported.
All of the study participants were treated with a 3-month standardized exercise program and psychological support as needed. In the intervention group, people also received radiofrequency denervation.
The study’s primary outcome was pain intensity based on a numeric rating scale, which w...
