title: Efficacy of pulsed radiofrequency medial branch treatment in low back pain patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It was thought that the efficacy of pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) treatment of the medial branch in patients with lower back pain was not as long lasting as that of continuous radiofrequency (CRF) thermo-coagulation techniques.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The goal of this study was to determine the efficacy and the long-term effects of PRF treatment of the medial branch in selected low back pain patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively reviewed and analyzed patients with lower back pain who underwent PRF treatment on the medial branch at our institute. Pain relief was evaluated by visual analog scale (VAS) score at pretreatment, 2 weeks, 6 months, 1 year and 2 years post-treatment. Oswestry disability index (ODI) score was evaluated pretreatment and at 2 years post-treatment. We also recorded the satisfaction period after PRF treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-three patients were available for the 2-year follow-up analysis. None of the patients had any side effects or procedure-related complications during the follow up period. The average VAS score declined from 7.1 ± 2.4 pre-treatment to 2.9 ± 2.1 2 weeks post-treatment, 2.6 ± 1.8 at 6 months, 2.8 ± 2.1 at 1 year and 3.0 ± 2.5 at 2 years. The average ODI score decreased from 33.6 ± 13.6 pre-treatment to 15.3 ± 5.7 at 2 years post-treatment. Mean satisfaction period after PRF treatment was 16.6 ± 9.43 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PRF treatment on the medial branch is an effective and safe treatment option for patients with lower back pain.
authors.forename: Do Hyoung
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Seong Rok
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Chan Young
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Moon Jun
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Sohn
authors.forename: Chae Heuck
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D059408:Pain Management / Q000379:methods*; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods; D061208:Pulsed Radiofrequency Treatment / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; C523534:TIC protein, Arabidopsis
keywords: Pulsed radiofrequency; continuous radiofrequency; low back pain; medial branch