title: Ultrasound-Guided Genicular Nerve Pulsed Radiofrequency Treatment For Painful Knee Osteoarthritis: A Preliminary Report.
abstract: Genicular nerve ablation with radiofrequency (RF) has recently emerged as a promising treatment in the management of osteoarthritis related knee pain. To date, genicular nerve injections have been performed under fluoroscopic guidance.
  
  
  
  To evaluate the effect of ultrasound-guided genicular nerve pulsed RF treatment on chronic knee pain and function in patients with knee osteoarthritis.
  
  
  
  Single-arm prospective study.
  
  
  
  University hospital and rehabilitation center in Turkey.
  
  
  
  A review was made of 29 patients with medial knee osteoarthritis who had undergone genicular nerve block in the previous 6 months. Patients with at least 50% reduction in the visual analog scale (VAS) score after genicular nerve block and with no on-going pain relief were selected for the study. Ultrasound-guided genicular nerve pulsed RF was applied to 15 knees of 9 patients. Pain and knee function were assessed with 100-mm VAS and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities (WOMAC) index throughout 3 months.
  
  
  
  A significant reduction in VAS scores was detected over time after the pulsed RF procedure (f: 69.24, P < 0.01). There was a significant improvement in the WOMAC scores (f: 539.68 , P < 0.01).
  
  
  
  The small number of participants, the lack of a control group, and short follow-up period were limitations of the study.
  
  
  
  Genicular nerve pulsed RF treatment has been found to be safe and beneficial in osteoarthritis related knee pain. Further studies with a larger population and randomized controlled study design are warranted to confirm the positive findings of this preliminary report.
authors.affiliation: Gülhane Military Medical Academy, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Turkish Armed Forces Rehabilitation Center, Ankara, Turkey;
authors.forename: Serdar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kesikburun
authors.affiliation: Gülhane Military Medical Academy, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Turkish Armed Forces Rehabilitation Center, Ankara, Turkey;
authors.forename: Evren
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Yaşar
authors.affiliation: Gülhane Military Medical Academy, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Turkish Armed Forces Rehabilitation Center, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ayça
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Uran
authors.affiliation: Gülhane Military Medical Academy, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Turkish Armed Forces Rehabilitation Center, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Emre
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Adigüzel
authors.affiliation: Gülhane Military Medical Academy, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Turkish Armed Forces Rehabilitation Center, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Bilge
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yilmaz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018771:Arthralgia / Q000628:therapy*; D001340:Autonomic Nerve Block / Q000379:methods*; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007717:Knee / Q000294:innervation*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000628:therapy*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D061208:Pulsed Radiofrequency Treatment / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014421:Turkey; D014463:Ultrasonography