RESUMO
Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of radiofrequency ablation for treatment of discogenic lumbar spinal nerve posterior branch neuralgia after vertebral column endoscope operation. Methods Thirty-six patients with discogenic lumbar spinal nerve posterior branch neuralgia after vertebral column endoscope surgery admitted to the Affiliated Hospital of Logistics University of People's Armed Police from December 2011 to December 2017 were enrolled. According to difference in therapeutic methods, they were randomly divided into two groups, 18 cases in each group. The radiofrequency ablation group was treated with X-ray imaging guided lumbar spinal nerve posterior branch radiofrequency thermo-coagulation; the drug group received oral diclofenac sodium conservative treatment, 75 mg twice daily for 3 weeks. Both groups were followed up for 6 months, visual analogue scores (VAS) were used to evaluate the pain before and after treatment, the Oswestry dysfunction index was used to assess the degree of lumbar function recovery, and the surgical complications and adverse drug reactions were observed. Results The VAS scores in the two groups were similar before treatment; after treatment for 1 month, the VAS scores in both groups were significantly lower than those before treatment (radiofrequency ablation group: 1.83±0.71 vs. 5.67±0.77; drug group: 2.22±0.43 vs. 5.28±0.67, both P < 0.05); after treatment for 3 months and 6 months, the VAS scores were increased gradually, however, the scores of radiofrequency ablation group were significantly lower than those in the drug group (3 months was 2.00±0.59 vs. 3.39±0.70, 6 months was 2.17±0.51 vs. 3.61±0.50, both P < 0.05), moreover, the excellent and good rates of postoperative pain efficacy and of Oswestry dysfunction index improvement in the radiofrequency ablation group were significantly higher than those in the drug group [excellent and good rates of postoperative pain efficacy: 94.44% (17/18) vs. 22.22% (4/18), excellent and good rates of Oswestry dysfunction index improvement: 77.78% (14/18) vs. 44.44% (8/18), both P < 0.05]. There were no complications of infection and spinal nerve anterior branch injury in the radiofrequency ablation group, and 6 patients in the drug group presented mild gastric discomfort, which was relieved after symptomatic treatment. Conclusion The radiofrequency ablation is an effective method for treatment of discogenic lumbar neuralgia after vertebral column operation, compared with the conservative therapy, the ablation is more effective to relieve pain for a long time, promote the recovery of neural function, and the operation is safe with very few adverse reactions.