A case series of pulsed radiofrequency treatment of myofascial trigger points and scar neuromas.
BACKGROUND
Pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) current applied to nerve tissue to treat intractable pain has recently been proposed as a less neurodestructive alternative to continuous radiofrequency lesioning. Clinical reports using PRF have shown promise in the treatment of a variety of focal, neuropathic conditions. To date, scant data exist on the use of PRF to treat myofascial and neuromatous pain.


METHODS
All cases in which PRF was used to treat myofascial (trigger point) and neuromatous pain within our practice were evaluated retrospectively for technique, efficacy, and complications. Trigger points were defined as localized, extremely tender areas in skeletal muscle that contained palpable, taut bands of muscle.


RESULTS
Nine patients were treated over an 18-month period. All patients had longstanding myofascial or neuromatous pain that was refractory to previous medical management, physical therapy, and trigger point injections. Eight out of nine patients experienced 75-100% reduction in their pain following PRF treatment at initial evaluation 4 weeks following treatment. Six out of nine (67%) patients experienced 6 months to greater than 1 year of pain relief. One patient experienced no better relief in terms of degree of pain reduction or duration of benefit when compared with previous trigger point injections. No complications were noted.


CONCLUSIONS
Our review suggests that PRF could be a minimally invasive, less neurodestructive treatment modality for these painful conditions and that further systematic evaluation of this treatment approach is warranted.
Tamimi
Mazin Al
MA
Colorado Spine and Pain, Littleton, Colorado, USA.
McCeney
Michael H
MH
Krutsch
Jason
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009209:Myofascial Pain Syndromes / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D009463:Neuroma / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010148:Intractable Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult