ArticleInternational journal of anesthetics and anesthesiology
Long-Term Function, Pain and Medication Use Outcomes of Radiofrequency Ablation for Lumbar Facet Syndrome.
Article in International journal of anesthetics and anesthesiology. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to 2 registered trials, which are not on this map. Cited by 33 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
The Effect of Stabilization Exercises on Pain, Disability and Physical Performance After Radiofrequency Lumbar Facet Denervation
Antagonism of Endogenous Opioids: Use in Interpretation of Injections
Who cites it
33 citing papers in PubMed, 72 citations in OpenAlex.
- Fluoroscopy-guided high-intensity focused ultrasound neurotomy of the lumbar zygapophyseal joints: a prospective, open-label study.Regional anesthesia and pain medicine · 2025Trial
- Randomized prospective trial of cooled versus traditional radiofrequency ablation of the medial branch nerves for the treatment of lumbar facet joint pain.Regional anesthesia and pain medicine · 2019Trial
- Durable Outcomes and Intervention Avoidance in Low Back Pain Up to 5 Years After Percutaneous 60-Day Peripheral Nerve Stimulation.Pain and therapy · 2026Article
- Review
- Cooled Radiofrequency Ablation of the Lateral Femoral Cutaneous Nerve for Chronic Refractory Meralgia Paresthetica.Current pain and headache reports · 2025Review
- The effectiveness of lumbar medial branch radiofrequency ablation using a three-tined electrode: A real-world cross-sectional cohort study.Interventional pain medicine · 2025Article
- Comparative Outcomes and Safety of Radiofrequency Ablation and Cryoablation for Lumbar Facet Joint Degeneration: A Single-Center Retrospective Cohort Study with 24-Month Follow-Up.Journal of clinical medicine · 2025Article
- Evaluation of internally cooled radiofrequency ablation targeting multiple shoulder nerves for chronic shoulder pain relief and function restoration: a prospective study.Pain medicine (Malden, Mass.) · 2025Article
- Repeat Genicular Nerve Cooled Radiofrequency Ablation: Retained Efficacy or Diminishing Returns?Journal of clinical medicine · 2025Article
- Radiofrequency Ablation of the Medial Branch Nerves for Posterior Element Pain in Chronic Vertebral Compression Fractures: An Anatomical Review and Retrospective Case Series.Journal of pain research · 2025Article
- Review
- Traditional versus cooled-radiofrequency neurotomy for the treatment of chronic lumbar facet (zygapophyseal) joint pain.Pain management · 2024Article
- The effect of lumbar medial branch radiofrequency neurotomy on cobb angle progression in individuals with adult scoliosis compared to natural history: A cross-sectional study.Interventional pain medicine · 2024Article
- International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery Statement: Restorative Neurostimulation for Chronic Mechanical Low Back Pain Resulting From Neuromuscular Instability.International journal of spine surgery · 2023Article
- FactFinders for patient safety: Motor stimulation testing in lumbar radiofrequency neurotomy and radiofrequency neurotomy in patients with posterior hardware.Interventional pain medicine · 2023Article
- Current trends in the technical performance of lumbar zygapophyseal joint interventions.Interventional pain medicine · 2023Article
- Abnormal Paresthesias Associated With Radiofrequency Ablation of Lumbar Medial Branch Nerves: A Case Report.Cureus · 2023Article
- Cost-effectiveness of radiofrequency neurotomy to treat zygapophysial joint pain compared with pain rehabilitation programs.Interventional pain medicine · 2022Article
- Dorsal Column Stimulation and Cannabinoids in the Treatment of Chronic Nociceptive and Neuropathic Pain: a Review of the Clinical and Pre-clinical Data.Current pain and headache reports · 2022Review
- Fluoroscopy-Guided High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound Neurotomy of the Lumbar Zygapophyseal Joints: A Clinical Pilot Study.Pain medicine (Malden, Mass.) · 2022Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
5 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
objectiveRadiofrequency ablation (RFA) of the medial branch nerves for facet-mediated low back pain demonstrates clinical benefit for 6-12 months and possibly up to 2 years. This study investigated function, pain, and medication use outcomes of RFA for lumbar facet syndrome in a cohort with long-term follow-up.
methodsIndividuals evaluated in a tertiary academic pain practice between January, 2007-December, 2013, 18-60 years of age, with a clinical and radiologic diagnosis of lumbar facet syndrome, who underwent ≥1set of diagnostic medial branch blocks with resultant >75% pain relief and subsequent RFA were included. Outcomes measured were the proportion of individuals who reported ≥50% improvement in function, ≥50% improvement in pain; change in median NRS pain score, daily morphine equivalent consumption (DME), Medication Quantification Scale III (MSQ III) score and procedure complications.
resultsSixty-two consecutive individuals with a median age and 25%-75% interquartile range (IQR) of 34 years (35, 52) met inclusion criteria. Seven individuals were lost to follow-up. Duration of pain was <2 years in 42%, 2-5 years in 40%, >5 years in 18% of individuals. Median duration of follow-up was 39 months (16, 60). Function and pain improved by ≥50% in 58% (CI 45%, 71%) and 53% (CI 40%, 66%) of individuals, respectively. The median reduction in MQS III score was 3.4 points (0, 8.8). No complications occurred in this cohort.
conclusionsThis study demonstrates a durable treatment effect of RFA for lumbar facet syndrome at long-term follow-up, as measured by improvement in function, pain, and analgesic use.
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What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.