Pulsed vs Continuous Radiofrequency Neurotomy for Cervical Facet Joint Mediated Pain
Unknown statusNot applicableNCT04124445
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Brief summary (from the registry)
Different studies have revealed different success rates and patient satisfaction after cervical facet C-RF. In a study on 32 patients, with 15 months follow up, 25% had complete pain relief (8). Another study had shown mean pain relief of 12.5 months and 11.5 months following a repeat procedure, with an effectiveness of 95% in 47 patients (8). In one study a success rate of 88% after first RF, and 86% following a repeat RF in 49 patients with facet mediated cervicogenic headache. They regarded the absence of anesthesia in the distribution of the 3rd occipital nerve, a technical failure (9). In a study from New Zealand, demonstrated cervical facet RF as the sole treatment modality, produced 61% -74% complete pain relief with a median duration of 15-17 months in patients who had responded to facet joints diagnostic block (10). One more study in 2012 has demonstrated high voltage P-RF had a higher short-term effect compare to usual voltage, but results are still lower than C-RF (11). A double blind randomized prospective study has illustrated P-RF did not show any success rate in 6 months pain control, whereas C-RF had 95% pain control for trigeminal neuralgia (12). Cohen in a recent study has compared P-RF with steroid injection for occipital neuralgia or migraine with occipital nerve tenderness (13). Six weeks pain relief was 61% in P-RF group, and 36% in steroid injection group, with a positive outcome of 34%, and 26% respectively (13). One study on 2010 had reached to 52.6%, 6 months pain improvement on occipital neuralgia (14).
Study details
- Official title
- Pulsed vs Continuous Radiofrequency Neurotomy for Cervical Facet Joint Mediated Pain: a Single-blind Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial
- Conditions
- Faceto-genic Neck Pain
- Shoulder Pain Chronic
- Faceto-genic Headache
- Interventions
- Procedure: Pulsed Radiofrequency Ablation
- Sponsor
- Allevio Pain Management Clinic
- Start date
- 2020-02-10
- Primary completion
- 2025-12-15
- Sex
- All
- Age range
- from 18 Years to 90 Years
- Results posted
- No results posted in this snapshot
- Countries
- Canada
- Total sites listed
- 2
Eligibility criteria
Show eligibility criteria (verbatim from the registry)
Inclusion Criteria: Age 18-90; Pain duration \> 3 months Cervical, Shoulder pain or cevicogenic Headache per Pain Diagram; Two single blinded facet medial branch blocks (MBB) performed 30 days prior to the facet RF; Subjects show 50% and more pain relief after each MBB (using VAS for this assessment); Unsuccessful or poorly tolerated previous treatments including: pain control medications, chiropractic, osteopathy, massage therapy, physiotherapy, acupuncture, aqua therapy, Botox injection, and trigger point injection; Exclusion Criteria: Non-English speakers; Refusal to sign informed consent; Less than 50% pain relief after MBB (using VAS); Variation in the dose of concomitant pain control medication less than 4 weeks before the procedure; Allergy to medication or radiology contrast; Patients with coagulation issues, those currently using anticoagulants and didn't stop them based on Allevio clinic's policy for anticoagulants; Pregnant patients; Any pain interventions including previous RF, MBB, infusions 90 days prior to the first MBB for the same area (Except failed Botox injection, and trigger point injection);
Canadian sites (2)
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov (US National Library of Medicine), snapshot October 2026. Check the registry for current recruiting status. Record: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04124445