The treatment of cervical pain syndromes with radiofrequency procedures

The treatment of mechanical cervical pain by means of radiofrequency lesions was studied in 53 patients. All had pain which had existed from 2 and 20 years and had failed to respond to conservative measures. Patients with pain over the facet joints underwent a percutaneous facet joint denervation (PFD). The results were good to excellent in 89.5 per cent of denervations. If there was pain radiating to the occipital region, head and/or shoulders the conductance was evaluated with segmental nerve blockades. Where the result was positive, a percutaneous partial rhizotomy (PPR) was done. The results were good to excellent in 80.5 per cent of treatments. Apart from post-operative discomfort, which subsided in a few weeks, there were no complications. After a follow-up of 1.5 years, 44 patients (84.6 per cent) still had satisfactory pain relief. Radiofrequency procedures can be a safe method for achieving long-lasting pain relief in cervical pain syndromes where other treatments have failed.