Intra-articular Pulsed Radiofrequency in Chronic Knee Pain

Başakşehir Çam & Sakura City Hospital

Status: Completed

Conditions: Osteoarthritis; Pain, Chronic; Osteoarthritis, Knee

Treatments: Drug: Steroid Injection; Procedure: Intra-articular Pulsed Radiofrequency

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06017674

2022.03.89

Details and patient eligibility

About

The aim of this study is to investigate the additional effect of Intra-articular Pulsed Radiofrequency (IAPRF) on pain and functional activities in addition to intra-articular steroids in patients with grade II and III knee osteoarthritis.

Full description

This randomized controlled trial included patients over 18 years of age with knee pain persisting for more than 3 months and stage II-III knee OA according to the Kellgren-Lawrence scale. The participants were randomized into two groups: the IAPRF + steroid injection (Group 1) and only steroid injection (Group 2) groups. The injections were administered under fluoroscopic guidance in both groups, and the needle was advanced to the midline of the tibiofemoral joint in the anteroposterior and lateral views. Group 1 received 8 mg of intra-articular dexamethasone after IAPRF application for 360 s at 45 V voltage, with the temperature not exceeding 42°C. Group 2 received 8 mg of intra-articular dexamethasone only. Pain intensity and participation in daily activities were evaluated using the numerical rating scale (NRS) and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities arthritis index (WOMAC), respectively, before the procedure and 1, 4, and 12 weeks after the procedure.

Enrollment: 54 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 80 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Age > 18 years,
• Having knee pain persisting for more than 3 months due to knee osteoarthritis (OA),
• Kellgren-Lawrence Classification grades II and III OA,
• Giving written and verbal informed consents.

Exclusion criteria

• Patients with a history of undergoing knee surgery and/or receiving any intra-articular knee injection within the previous 6 months,
• Having a local or systemic infection or a coagulation disorder,
• Patients who refused to participate in the study.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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54 participants in 2 patient groups

Group 1

Experimental group

Description:

Intra-articular Pulsed Radiofrequency and Steroid Injection

Treatment:

Drug: Steroid Injection

Procedure: Intra-articular Pulsed Radiofrequency

Group 2

Experimental group

Description:

Only Intra-articular Steroid Injection

Treatment:

Drug: Steroid Injection