ArticleCureus2025
Treatment of Peripheral Nerves With Pulsed Radiofrequency: A Retrospective Analysis.
Article in Cureus, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 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.
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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.
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Who cites it
5 citing papers in PubMed.
- Article
- Effects of Esketamine Infusion by Patient-Controlled Intravenous Analgesia in Patients With Zoster-Associated Pain: A Retrospective Study.Medical science monitor : international medical journal of experimental and clinical research · 2026Article
- Pecto-Intercostal Fascial Plane Radiofrequency Ablation for Chronic Post-Sternotomy Pain: A Case Report.A&A practice · 2026Article
- The effects of pulsed radiofrequency stimulation on mitochondrial function in neurons: a mini review.Frontiers in pain research (Lausanne, Switzerland) · 2026Review
- Peripheral neuromodulation in spasticity-plus syndrome: effects of pulsed radiofrequency on tonic-painful disorders in multiple sclerosis.Frontiers in neurology · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
3 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundPulsed radiofrequency (PRF) has evolved as a promising neuromodulative technique in chronic pain. Although it was initially used to treat spinal ganglia, it seems that it might also positively affect peripheral nerves. However, clinical evidence of its effect on peripheral nerves remains scarce.
methodsIn this retrospective study, we included patients with therapy-refractory chronic pain who received PRF treatment of peripheral nerves during an 11-month period in the pain center of a tertiary hospital in Zurich, Switzerland. A total of 17 treatments were analyzed. Pain scores, Global Impression of Change (GIC) scores, reduction of medication, and time to next infiltration up to three months after PRF were documented. Nine different peripheral nerves were treated.
resultsPain scores were statistically lower at two weeks, one month, and three months after therapy. Overall, eight (47%) and five (29%) patients reported at least a 50% decrease in pain at one and three months, respectively. Of all patients, 12 (71%) reported an improvement in GIC at one and three months, while 10 (67%) could reduce or cease pain medications. PRF resulted in 14 (82%) patients not requiring a new infiltration for at least three months. However, in the presence of a psychiatric diagnosis, results were poorer.
conclusionsUsing PRF on peripheral nerves provided promising clinical results in terms of pain and impact of change in therapy-refractory cases. PRF might be a useful tool in pain medicine when the effects of nerve blocks are not sustainable. Further research is warranted.
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