title: The efficacy of radiofrequency lesioning of the cervical spinal dorsal root ganglion in a double blinded randomized study: no difference between 40 degrees C and 67 degrees C treatments.
abstract: The efficacy of radiofrequency lesion treatment of the cervical dorsal root ganglion (RF-DRG) in cervicobrachialgia was investigated in 61 patients by a randomized prospective double blinded study. Before lesion treatment the putative pain provoking spinal root was identified by diagnostic blocks with a local anesthetic agent. One group of patients (n = 32, group I) was treated with a radiofrequency lesion of 67 degrees C and in a control group (n = 29, group II) a temperature of 40 degrees C was applied. Three months after treatment a significant reduction in VAS scores was demonstrated in both groups. The outcome of the treatments was identical (VAS reduction: group I, 1.7; group II, 1.9; P = 0.001). In group I a VAS reduction of 3 or more occurred in 11/31 (34%) and in group II in 11/29 (38%) of patients. A VAS reduction of 2 or more occurred in group I in 15/31 (47%) and in group II in 15/29 (51%) of patients. This study suggests that treatment with 40 degrees C radiofrequency application of the dorsal root ganglion is equally effective as treatment at 67 degrees C. Further appraisal of this treatment is required.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Sint Maartenskliniek, P.O. Box 9011, 6500 GM Nijmegen, The Netherlands Pain Center, Institute for Anesthesiology, University Hospital Nijmegen, P.O. Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands Department of Anesthesiology, Sint Anna Hospital, P.O. Box 10, 5340 BE Oss, The Netherlands Department of Anesthesiology, Rijnstate Hospital, P.O. Box 9555, 6800 TA Arnhem, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Slappendel
authors.forename: Ben J P
authors.initials: BJP
authors.lastname: Crul
authors.forename: Gerard J J
authors.initials: GJJ
authors.lastname: Braak
authors.forename: Jos W M
authors.initials: JWM
authors.lastname: Geurts
authors.forename: Leo H D J
authors.initials: LHDJ
authors.lastname: Booij
authors.forename: Victor F
authors.initials: VF
authors.lastname: Voerman
authors.forename: Theo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: de Boo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D020968:Brachial Plexus Neuritis / Q000601:surgery*; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000601:surgery*; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009333:Neck / Q000294:innervation*; D010148:Intractable Pain / Q000601:surgery*; D011446:Prospective Studies