Pulsed radiofrequency ablation of the posterior spinal root ganglia (PRF DRG) for the treatment of chronic lumbar radicular pain

Radicular lumbar pain constitutes a significant proportion of the total number of pain syndromes. Conservative treatment of this pathology is effective in 60 % of patients. In other cases, the pain may become chronic, leading to disability. These facts have been a stimulus for the development of minimally-invasive procedures which are sufficiently effective and have a low risk of potential complications. The most common of these is interventional radiofrequency treatment.The purpose of this study is to investigate the dynamics of pain and social adaptation in patients suffering from chronic lumbar radicular pain, who have been treated with pulsed radiofrequency ablation of the posterior spinal root ganglia (pulsed radiofrequency of dorsal root ganglion, PRF DRG).Materials and methods. A retrospective study included 42 patients aged from 27 to 78 years (49.7 ± 14.8) who were treated in 2016–2017 at the Neuromed Clinic in Kyiv and the Institute of Traumatology and Orthopedics of NAMS of Ukraine. The study included patients suffering from reactive lumbosacral radicular pain due to degenerative-dystrophic lesions of the spine. Pain syndrome was assessed on a visual analogue scale (VAS) before manipulation, immediately after it, and six months afterwards. Social adaptation in everyday life was objectified using the Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Questionnaire.Results. No complications were registered. Absolutely all patients confirmed a decrease in pain. Before the manipulation, most of the patients described their pain as “very strong” (VAS 7.14 ± 0.68), whilst after the procedure the majority answered that their pain decreased to “average” (VAS 4.02 ± 0.81). A similar trend persisted for six months after treatment (VAS 1.85 ± 0.78). Before manipulation, the index of impairment due to pain (ODI) was 71.42 ± 6.83. Six months after the procedure, the ODI index was 18.57 ± 7.83.Conclusion. Pulsed radiofrequency of the dorsal spinal ganglia (PRF DRG) is a safe and effective procedure for the treatment of chronic lumbar radicular pain.