Fluoroscopy-guided Bipolar Radiofrequency Thermocoagulation Treatment for Discogenic Low Back Pain.

BackgroundThe efficacy of percutaneous intradiscal radiofrequency thermocoagulation (PIRFT) for the treatment of discogenic low back pain (LBP) remains controversial. However, all the PIRFT studies utilized monopolar radiofrequency thermocoagulation (RFTC). The aim of this study was to investigate the safety and efficacy of bipolar RFTC for the treatment of discogenic LBP.MethodsA total of 23 patients with discogenic LBP were treated with single-level bipolar RFTC. The patients were assessed before the procedure and at 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year after the procedure. The primary outcome included the visual analog scale (VAS) score and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) score. The secondary outcome included pain relief, reduction of analgesic dose, and patient satisfaction.ResultsThe VAS and ODI scores were significantly decreased after bipolar RFTC treatment at all time points of follow-up (P ConclusionsBipolar RFTC treatment can significantly attenuate pain and improve the function of patients with discogenic LBP.