title: A novel treatment of chronic orchialgia.
abstract: We evaluated the effectiveness of pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) denervation  of spermatic cord for the treatment of chronic orchialgia. Five patients  diagnosed with chronic orchialgia were evaluated with a thorough medical and  psychiatric history, physical examination, and scrotal Doppler ultrasound,  urinary system x-ray film, and urine analyses. One of the patients had  bilateral chronic orchialgia. All of the patients had pain for a period of at  least 3 months, and multiple conservative therapies failed to alleviate the  pain. The patients, who had temporary pain relief after undergoing outpatient  diagnostic cord block, were determined to be candidates for PRF denervation.  PRF denervation of spermatic cord was performed for 6 testicular units. Visual  analog scores were noted before and after the procedure. There were no  pathologic conditions that indicated chronic orchialgia in any of the  patients. No complications, including testicular atrophy or hypoesthesia of  the scrotal or penile skin, occurred after the procedure. Mean visual analog  scores before and after the procedure were 9 and 1, respectively. None of the  patients needed any analgesics after the procedure or during the follow-up  period. Mean follow-up period was 20 ± 2.5 weeks. No recurrence was  noted, and none of the patients needed additional therapy. This is a limited  case report on the short-term use of PRF. Randomized, placebo-controlled, and  long follow-up period studies are needed to better assess the efficacy of this  procedure for chronic orchalgia.
authors: Department of Urology, Gulhane Military Medical Academy, School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey. serefbasal@gmail.com
authors: Seref
authors: S
authors: Basal
authors: Atila
authors: A
authors: Ergin
authors: Ibrahim
authors: I
authors: Yildirim
authors: Serdar
authors: S
authors: Goktas
authors: Abdulkadir
authors: A
authors: Atim
authors: Ali
authors: A
authors: Sizlan
authors: Hasan Cem
authors: HC
authors: Irkilata
authors: Ercan
authors: E
authors: Kurt
authors: Murat
authors: M
authors: Dayanc
mesh_terms: D002908:Chronic Disease; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013733:Testicular Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*