a 2nd Radiology Department , University General Hospital "ATTIKON" , Athens , Greece.
Int J Hyperthermia. 2018 Dec;34(8):1265-1269. doi: 10.1080/02656736.2017.1409910. Epub 2018 Feb 8.
To prospectively evaluate the effectiveness of intra-articular application of pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) combined with viscosupplementation in patients with knee osteoarthritis suffering from chronic pain refractory to conservative therapies.
During a 30-month period, PRF combined with viscosupplementation was performed on 53 cases of knee osteoarthritis (45 patients, 8/45 with bilateral knee osteoarthritis). Pre-operational imaging included standard knee X-rays on anterior-posterior and lateral views used to evaluate patients according to the Kellgren-Lawrence classification. Pain, prior, one week/one, 6 and 12 months post were compared by means of a numeric visual scale (NVS) questionnaire.
Mean pain score prior to PRF was 8.19 ± 1.4 NVS units. This score was reduced to a mean value of 2.47 ± 2.5 NVS units at 1 week after, 2.55 ± 2.6 at 1 month, 3.1 ± 2.8 at 6 months and 5.02 ± 3.09 at 12 months of follow-up (p < 0.01). Overall mobility improved in 47/53 (88.6%) patients. No complication was observed.
Combining PRF with viscous supplementation is an effective and safe technique for palliative management of chronic pain in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Results seem to be reproducible and long lasting. There seems to be a need of repeating the session at 1 year.
前瞻性评估关节内应用脉冲射频（PRF）联合粘弹性补充治疗对慢性疼痛的膝骨关节炎患者的有效性，这些患者对保守治疗有抗药性。
在 30 个月的时间内，对 53 例膝骨关节炎（45 例患者，8/45 例双侧膝骨关节炎）进行了 PRF 联合粘弹性补充治疗。术前影像学包括前后位和侧位标准膝关节 X 线片，用于根据 Kellgren-Lawrence 分类评估患者。通过数字视觉量表（NVS）问卷比较术前、术后 1 周、1 个月、6 个月和 12 个月的疼痛情况。
PRF 前平均疼痛评分为 8.19±1.4 NVS 单位。这一评分在术后 1 周降至 2.47±2.5 NVS 单位，1 个月时降至 2.55±2.6 NVS 单位，6 个月时降至 3.1±2.8 NVS 单位，12 个月时降至 5.02±3.09 NVS 单位（p<0.01）。53 例中有 47 例（88.6%）患者整体活动度得到改善。未观察到任何并发症。
PRF 联合粘弹性补充治疗是一种有效且安全的技术，可用于缓解膝骨关节炎慢性疼痛患者的疼痛。结果似乎是可重复和持久的。似乎需要在 1 年后再次进行治疗。
