The Effect of Radiofrequency-treatment on Patients With Facet-joint Pain in Cervical- and Lumbar-columna

Norwegian University of Science and Technology

Status: Completed

Conditions: Neck Pain; Low Back Pain

Treatments: Procedure: radiofrequency treatment; Procedure: sham neurotomy

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT00476684

023-04REK

Details and patient eligibility

About

There is conflicting evidence on whether radio-frequency neurotomy of the medial branch has a significant effect on pain in patients with chronic unilateral facet joint neck and back pain.

We will evaluate radiofrequency treatment on medial-branch of the ramus dorsalis as an effective pain treatment for patients with chronic pain originated from facet-joints in cervical and lumbar columna.

Enrollment: 28 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 20 to 75 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• one-sided neck and low back chronic pain
• pain durability of at least 1 year

Exclusion criteria

• other somatic or psychiatric disorders
• pregnancy
• stated co-morbidity
• anaesthetics intolerance
• no effect of diagnostic blockades (one or two)

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Factorial Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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28 participants in 2 patient groups

radiofrequency neurotomy

Experimental group

Description:

Radiofrequency-neurotomy of the medial branch at 80 degr. C for 70 seconds, after diagnostic blocks

Treatment:

Procedure: radiofrequency treatment

sham controls

Sham Comparator group

Description:

Radiofrequency-neurotomy of the medial branch at 37 degr. C needle temperature for 70 seconds, after diagnostic blocks

Treatment:

Procedure: sham neurotomy