title: The Effect of Pulsed Radiofrequency Applied to the Peripheral Nerve in Chronic Constriction Injury Rat Model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) applied proximal to the injured peripheral nerve on the expression of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in a neuropathic pain rat model.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nineteen male Sprague-Dawley rats were used in the study. All rats underwent chronic constriction injury (CCI) procedure. After 7 days of CCI, withdrawal frequency of affected hind paw to mechanical stimuli and withdrawal latency of affected hind paw to heat stimulus were measured. They were randomly divided into two groups: group A, CCI group (n=9) and group B, CCI treated with PRF group (n=10). Rats of group B underwent PRF procedure on the sciatic nerve. Withdrawal frequency and withdrawal latency were measured at 12 hours, and 7 days after PRF. Immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis were performed using a TNF-α antibody.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Before PRF, withdrawal frequency and withdrawal latency were not different in both groups. After PRF, withdrawal frequency decreased and withdrawal latency prolonged over time in group B. There was significant interaction between time and group for each withdrawal frequency and withdrawal latency. Group B showed decreased TNF-α immunoreactivity of the spinal cord and sciatic nerve at 7 days.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PRF applied proximal to the peripheral nerve injury is potentially helpful for the reduction of neuropathic pain by neuromodulation of inflammatory markers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Chonnam National University Medical School & Hospital, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: Jun-Beom
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Chonnam National University Medical School & Hospital, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: Jeong-Hyun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Byun
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Chonnam National University Medical School & Hospital, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: In-Sung
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: Young
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: Ji Shin
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Lee
keywords: Neuralgia; Peripheral nerves; Pulsed radiofrequency treatment; Tumor necrosis factor-alpha