Efficacy of Genicular Nerve Radiofrequency Ablation Versus Intra-Articular Platelet Rich Plasma in Chronic Knee Osteoarthritis: A Single-Blind Randomized Clinical Trial.

Abstract

BACKGROUND\nChronic knee osteoarthritis is a common problem with increasing of the aging population. Pulsed radiofrequency and intraarticular platelet rich plasma injection are well evidenced beneficial modalities for pain alleviation in such groups of patients.\n\n\nOBJECTIVE\nThe primary goal in this study was to compare the 2 modalities regarding pain alleviation evaluated by visual analog scale. The secondary goal focused upon the change of the Index of Severity for Osteoarthritis of the Knee by Lequesne.\n\n\nSTUDY DESIGN\nSingle-blind randomized interventional clinical trial.\n\n\nSETTING\nUniversity hospitals.\n\n\nMETHODS\nTwo hundred patients with chronic knee osteoarthritis were equally and randomly distributed into 2 groups. Group PRF received pulsed radiofrequency, whereas the group PRP received intraarticular platelet-rich plasma. The visual analog scale and index of severity of osteoarthritis were evaluated before intervention, after one week (for visual analog scale only), then after 3, 6, and 12 months.\n\n\nRESULTS\nVisual analog scale was significantly lower in the PRF group compared to the PRP group at 6 and 12 months with P-values of 0.01 and 0.04, respectively. Regarding to the postinterventional index of severity of osteoarthritis, it was significantly lower in the PRF group than the PRP group with P-values of 0.001 at 3, 6, and 12 months follow-up.\n\n\nLIMITATIONS\nPhysical and analgesic therapy were not included in data collection, and there was no control group.\n\n\nCONCLUSION\nPulsed radiofrequency of the genicular nerves can be considered superior to knee intraarticular platelet-rich plasma injection for sustained pain relief and the lower severity index in patients with chronic knee osteoarthritis.