The therapeutic effects of radiofrequency thermocoagulation denervation mediated by digital subtraction angiography in lumbar facet joint syndrome / 中华物理医学与康复杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To observe the therapeutic effects and assess the feasibility of radiofrequency thermo- coagulation denervation(TRD)mediated by digital subtraction angiography(DSA)for patients with lumbar facet joint syndrome(LFJS).Methods Eighty LFJS patients were randomly divided into two groupsa denervated group(groupⅠ)and a control group (groupⅡ).The lumbar facet joints of the patients in groupⅠwere treated with TRD,while those in groupⅡhad their lumbar facet joint cavities injected with the mixture of 1 mg betamethasone and 1 ml lidocaine.All patients were assessed using the Visual Analog Scale(VAS)before treatment and 30 rain,1 d, 1 w,1 m and 6 m after.Schober values were measured at 1 w,1 m and 6 m after treatment.The therapeutic effects and side effects were assessed at 6 m after treatment.Results VAS scores in groupsⅠandⅡat 30 min,1 d,1 w and 1 m after treatment were remarkably lower than before treatment.In addition,those in groupⅠ6m after treatment were also significantly lower(P＜0.01).Compared with those in the groupⅡ,VAS scores in groupⅠwere signifi- cantly decreased at 1 m and 6 m after treatment(P＜0.05 and P＜0.01,respectively).The schober values in groupⅠat 1 m and 6m were obviously increased in comparison with those in groupⅡ,while the therapeutic effects in groupⅠat 6m after treatment were better than those in groupⅡ(P＜0.01).There were no side effects,such as injuries to the nerve roots or dysfunctional dermal sensation,in either group.Conclusion TRD,mediated by DSA,has ther- apeutic effects on LFJS.Such treatment is safe,convenient,and gives long-term pain relief.