ArticleMedicine2017
Effect of bipolar pulsed radiofrequency on refractory chronic cervical radicular pain: A report of two cases.
Article in Medicine, 2017. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT04124445 (Pulsed vs Continuous Radiofrequency Neurotomy for Cervical Facet Joint Mediated Pain), which is not on this map. Cited by 6 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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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.
Pulsed vs Continuous Radiofrequency Neurotomy for Cervical Facet Joint Mediated Pain: a Single-blind Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial
Who cites it
6 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Effectiveness of pulsed radiofrequency treatment on cervical radicular pain: A meta-analysis.Medicine · 2018Pooled it
- Ultrasound-guided high-voltage pulsed radiofrequency versus standard-voltage pulsed radiofrequency in refractory chronic cervical radicular pain randomized clinical trial.Journal of anesthesia · 2025Trial
- Efficacy of pulsed radiofrequency stimulation in patients with chronic pain: a narrative review.Frontiers in pain research (Lausanne, Switzerland) · 2025Review
- Deep Learning Algorithm Trained on Oblique Cervical Radiographs to Predict Outcomes of Transforaminal Epidural Steroid Injection for Pain from Cervical Foraminal Stenosis.Pain and therapy · 2024Article
- Management of refractory chronic migraine using ultrasound-guided pulsed radiofrequency of greater occipital nerve: Two case reports.Medicine · 2018Article
- Effect of intradiscal pulsed radiofrequency on refractory chronic discogenic neck pain: A case report.Medicine · 2018Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
1 author.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
rationaleDespite undergoing transforaminal epidural steroid injection (TFESI), many patients complain of persisting cervical radicular pain. For the management of chronic cervical radicular pain, clinicians are widely applying pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) stimulation to dorsal root ganglions (DRGs). To enhance the effect of PRF stimulation, we conducted bipolar PRF stimulation in 2 patients with chronic cervical radicular pain that was refractory to monopolar PRF and repeated TFESIs. PATIENT CONCERNS: Patients 1 and 2 presented with a numeric rating scale (NRS) score of 7 and 6 for chronic cervical radicular pain, respectively, despite undergoing monopolar PRF and 2 TFESIs. DIAGNOSES: On cervical magnetic resonance imaging, foraminal stenosis at the right C6-7 and right central to right foraminal disc protrusion on C6-7 were observed in patients 1 and 2, respectively. Two patients showed a positive response on diagnostic right C7 selective nerve root block with 0.5 mL of 1% lidocaine.
interventionsBipolar PRF stimulation was performed under C-arm fluoroscopy. Two parallel RF cannulas (less than 1 cm apart) were used for DRG stimulation. The PRF treatment was administered at 5 Hz and a 5-ms pulsed width for 360 seconds at 45 V with the constraint that the electrode tip temperature did not exceed 42°C. OUTCOMES: At the 2-week and 1-month follow-up, after undergoing bipolar PRF, the pain of patient 1 was completely relieved, and at 2, 3, and 6 months, the pain was scored as NRS 2. In patient 2, at the 2-week follow-up after undergoing bipolar PRF, pain severity was reduced from NRS 6 to 2. The effect of bipolar PRF on patient 2 lasted for at least 6 months. No adverse effects were observed in either patient. LESSONS: Application of bipolar PRF to DRGs seems to be an effective and safe technique for treating refractory chronic cervical radicular pain.
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