The efficacy of pulsed radiofrequency intervention of the lumbar dorsal root ganglion in patients with chronic lumbar radicular pain

Introduction: In recent years, pulsed radiofrequency (PR) has been used as a minimally invasive pain intervention. However, various studies on the efficacy of PR as modalities for the treatment of radicular pain in lumbar disc herniation have had varied results. Objective: This study aims to determine the efficacy of PR in reducing radicular pain among lumbar disc herniation patients compared with conservative treatment. Methods: This study was conducted using the before-and- after quasi experimental design. There were 50 subjects that fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria and they were divided into an intervention group (n=25) and control group (n=25). The intervention group was given once PR in the dorsal root ganglion. All subjects were assessed for Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) before treatment, at 1-, 2- and 4-week after treatment. Results: At1-, 2- and 4-week, the VAS reduction in the intervention group was statistically significant compared to the control group. Four weeks after the intervention, the VAS score decreased in the intervention group (mean VAS -78.5, SD 16.8) more significantly compared to the control group (p<0.001). The ODI score decreased in the intervention group (mean ODI -61.8, SD 20.1) more significantly than in the control group (p<0.001). Conclusion: Finding showed that at1-, 2- and 4-weekPR was more efficacious in reducing radicular pain among lumbar disc herniation patients compared to the conservative therapy. © 2020 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.