title: Sacroiliac joint pain: Prospective, randomised, experimental and comparative study of thermal radiofrequency with sacroiliac joint block.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the analgesic effects between the blockade and bipolar thermal radiofrequency in the treatment of sacroiliac joint pain.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, randomised and experimental study conducted on 60 patients selected in the two hospitals over a period of nine months, who had intense sacroiliac joint pain (Visual Analogue Scale [VAS]>6) that lasted more than 3 months. Patients were randomised into three groups (n=20): Group A (two intra-articular sacroiliac injections of local anaesthetic/corticosteroid guided by ultrasound in 7 days). Group B: conventional bipolar radiofrequency "palisade". Target points were the lateral branch nerves of S1, S2, and S3, distance needles 1cm. Group C: modified bipolar radiofrequency "palisade" (needle distance >1cm). Patients were evaluated at one month, three months, and one year. Demographic data, VAS reduction, and side effects of the techniques were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One month after the treatment, pain reduction was >50% in the three groups P<.001. Three and 12 months after the technique, the patients of the group A did not have a significant reduction in pain. At 3 months, almost 50% patients of the group B referred to improvement of the pain (P=.03), and <25% at 12 months, and those results were statistically significant (P=.01) compared to the baseline. Group C showed an improvement of 50% at 3 and 12 months (P<.001). All patients completed the study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Bipolar radiofrequency "palisade", especially when the distance between the needles was increased, was more effective and lasted longer, compared to join block and steroids, in relieving pain sacroiliac joint.
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Dolor, Servicio de Anestesia, Reanimación y Dolor, Complexo Hospitalario Universitario Ourense (CHUO), Ourense, España. Electronic address: maria.de.la.luz.canovas.martinez@sergas.es.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cánovas Martínez
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Dolor, Servicio de Anestesia, Reanimación y Dolor, Complexo Hospitalario Universitario Ourense (CHUO), Ourense, España.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Orduña Valls
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Dolor, Servicio de Anestesia, Reanimación y Dolor, Complexo Hospitalario Universitario Ourense (CHUO), Ourense, España.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Paramés Mosquera
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Dolor, Servicio de Anestesia, Reanimación y Dolor, Complexo Hospitalario Universitario Ourense (CHUO), Ourense, España.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lamelas Rodríguez
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Dolor, Servicio de Anestesia, Reanimación y Dolor, Complexo Hospitalario Universitario Ourense (CHUO), Ourense, España.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rojas Gil
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Dolor, Hospital Insular de Lanzarote, Arrecife, Las Palmas, España.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Domínguez García
mesh_terms: D001416:Back Pain; D006801:Humans; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012446:Sacroiliac Joint
keywords: Articulación sacroilíaca; Bipolar; Bloqueo intraarticular; Dolor; Intra-articular block; Pain; Palisade; Radiofrecuencia térmica; Radiofrequency denervation; Sacroiliac joint; «Palisade»