Prospective analysis of radiofrequency denervation in patients with chronic low back pain.

BACKGROUND

To analyse the effectiveness of lumbar rhizolysis in patients with facet joint-related chronic low back pain and to study the influence of various variables on the results. Facet joints are thought to be responsible for up to 15% of all cases of chronic low back pain. Although radiofrequency denervation of these joints is a common procedure, there is currently no solid evidence to allow the selection of patients who may be candidates for this technique to be selected or the effectiveness and safety thereof to be demonstrated.

METHODS

A prospective analytical study of 100 patients treated with lumbar rhizolysis at the Hospital Universitario de Cabueñes (Gijón, Spain) between 2016 and 2019. Various demographic variables, the evolution of the visual analogue scale (VAS), the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and consumption of analgesics pre- and postoperatively was analysed at 2, 6, 12 and 24 months.

RESULTS

The mean age of our sample was 57.8 years (27.0-85.5), with a BMI of 27.09 (16.14-46.22), and 63.8% of subjects were female. The mean duration of the symptoms prior to the intervention was 8.7 years, with 28.7% of subjects having a history of spinal surgery. The intervention resulted in a significant reduction in analgesics consumption. Moreover, a statistically significant reduction in pure low back pain, radiating pain and in the ODI in the short to medium term was observed with respect to baseline. We found that being female, having a history of prior low back surgery, the time to progression and the analgesic level consumed by the patient were related to a greater disability.

CONCLUSIONS

Lumbar rhizolysis results in a significant reduction in pain and functional disability in patients with chronic low back pain in both the short- and medium-term, and reduces the need for analgesics consumption.