Pulsed and conventional radiofrequency thermocoagulation treatment in low back pain

Purpose: While treating chronic low back pain several procedures are applied according to the algorithm. Radiofrequency thermokoagulation is one of these procedures. The basis of this procedure is producing damage with heat of the electrodes terminal. İn this study, we aimed to compare the afficiency of pulsed and conventional radiofrequency thermocoagulation as treatment of low back pain. Materials and Methods: After having our faculties Ethical Committee and patients written aproval, total 30 patients who will recieve radiofrequency taken in to the study. Our study, which is planned to be randomized double blind were separated into two groups of 15 patient. İn Group I, 4 minutes at 42 °C pulsed radiofrequency and in Group II, 2 minutes 65 °C conventional radiofrequency is applied. Both of these groups took Metilprednizolon and Levobupicain at total volume of 3 ml after the procedure. Both of two groups were evaluated before and after the first and third mounth of the procedure according to the Visual Analogue Scala (VAS), Modified Oswetry Index (MOI) values, loss of sense, loss of motor function and loss of reflex. Results: Its been estimated that demographic findings of these groups were similar and there are no statistical differances between them. As we evaluated the treatment patients recieved befrore the procedure, it's found that ; %43.3 of patients had surgical lomber procedure, %37,9 of patients had physical theraphy and %55,2 of patients had nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAID). When VAS and MOI values were compared before the procedure and one and three mounth after the procedure the differance of all the subjects were meaningful; while there was no statistical differance between Group I and Group II. Evaluation of sense loss and motor function loss before the procedure, one and three mounts after the procedure showed no statistical differance between Group I and Group II. None of the patients had reflex loss. Conclusion: Its been determined that; both of the two radiofrequency application in low back pain had an efficiency and there is no clinical and statistical differances between two aplications.