Predictors of Success After Intercostal Nerve Radiofrequency Treatment for Intercostal Neuralgia (ICN-RF-IN)

Mersin University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Thoracic Neuropathic Pain; Postherpetic Neuralgia ( PHN ); Intercostal Neuralgia

Treatments: Procedure: Intercostal Nerve Conventional Radiofrequency Ablation (CRF); Procedure: Intercostal Nerve Pulsed Radiofrequency (PRF)

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07367152

MERSINALG-INTERCOSTALRF-2026

Details and patient eligibility

About

This retrospective cohort study will review medical records of patients treated with intercostal nerve radiofrequency for intercostal neuralgia. The goal is to identify patient and clinical factors that are associated with treatment success after the procedure. Outcomes will be assessed using pain measures documented during routine follow-up visits, along with any recorded adverse events. No additional visits, tests, or interventions are required because this study uses previously collected clinical data.

Full description

This retrospective cohort study analyzed anonymized medical records of adults (≥18 years) with intercostal neuralgia (post-traumatic, postherpetic, or idiopathic) treated in Pain Clinic of Mersin University Faculty of Medicine who underwent ultrasound-guided intercostal conventional radiofrequency ablation (CRF) or pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) between January 1, 2018 and May 30, 2025.

Primary outcome is treatment response at 6 months, defined by IMMPACT criteria as a ≥50% reduction or ≥4-point decrease in NRS-11 from baseline; secondary outcomes include changes in NRS-11 over time, and exploratory analyses evaluate whether clinical factors (e.g., age, sex, pain duration, diagnosis, presence of allodynia, and number of treated intercostal levels )are associated with response using multivariable logistic regression (p < 0.05 considered statistically significant).

The findings are expected to clarify which patient and clinical characteristics are linked to better outcomes after intercostal nerve radiofrequency and to support more individualized decision-making in the management of intercostal neuralgia.

Enrollment: 60 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Age ≥ 18 years.
• Diagnosis of intercostal neuralgia (post-traumatic, postherpetic, or idiopathic) with thoracic neuropathic pain for at least 1 month
• Underwent ultrasound-guided intercostal nerve radiofrequency treatment (conventional radiofrequency ablation [CRF] or pulsed radiofrequency [PRF]) as part of routine clinical care
• Documented baseline NRS-11 pain score prior to the procedure and follow-up NRS-11 data available through at least 6 months after treatment.

Exclusion criteria

• Thoracic pain attributable to malignancy-related causes (e.g., active malignant invasion, spinal metastasis) or an intrathoracic mass
• History of thoracic surgery at the corresponding thoracic dermatome level (e.g., thoracotomy or VATS)
• Prior radiofrequency treatment at the same intercostal nerve site
• Receipt of other interventional treatments targeting the intercostal nerve during the study period (e.g., cryoablation or chemical neurolysis)
• Insufficient follow-up data (less than 6 months of follow-up NRS-11 documentation).

Trial design

60 participants in 1 patient group

Intercostal Nerve Radiofrequency Cohort

Description:

Adults with intercostal neuralgia who underwent ultrasound-guided intercostal nerve radiofrequency treatment (conventional or pulsed) as part of routine clinical care.

Treatment:

Procedure: Intercostal Nerve Pulsed Radiofrequency (PRF)

Procedure: Intercostal Nerve Conventional Radiofrequency Ablation (CRF)