Radiofrequency For Chronic Knee Pain Post-Arthroplasty (DEFIANT)

Radiofrequency For The Treatment Of Chronic Knee Pain Following Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Pilot Study

Chronic knee osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most common diseases with increasing prevalence in advanced age. Knee OA results in movement restriction, sleep disturbance, and disability. Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is employed often in the symptomatic treatment of knee OA. It has been estimated that 3.4 million TKAs will be performed in the year 2030 in the United States alone. Many studies report rewarding outcomes for patients, but other research shows there are many patients that remain dissatisfied post-arthroplasty. The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether genicular radiofrequency ablation can relieve chronic post-arthroplasty knee pain.

Chronic knee osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most common diseases with increasing prevalence in advanced age. Knee OA results in movement restriction, sleep disturbance, and disability. Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is employed often in the symptomatic treatment of knee OA. It has been estimated that 3.4 million TKAs will be performed in the year 2030 in the United States alone. Many studies report rewarding outcomes for patients, but other research shows there are many patients that remain dissatisfied post-arthroplasty. As the prevalence of knee arthroplasty increases, so does the frequency of revisions. It has been found that 20% of patients reporting painful knee arthroplasties were not able to be diagnosed with a specific cause and were therefore referred to a pain specialist. Pharmacologic therapy and non-surgical interventions are often employed with minimal benefit to the patient's level of disability as indicated by clinical evidence. Genicular radiofrequency ablation seems to be a safe, effective and minimally invasive therapy for chronic knee OA patients who have had a positive diagnostic block. No study has determined whether genicular radiofrequency ablation can relieve chronic post-arthroplasty knee pain. The investigators propose to examine the effect of genicular radiofrequency ablation in chronic post-arthroplasty knee pain in patients who respond positively to diagnostic nerve blocks.

A 10 cm 18-gauge RF cannula with a 10 mm active tip will be placed at the superior lateral, superior medial, and inferior medial nerve positions under fluoroscopic guidance. Sensory stimulation at 50 Hz will be performed to identify nerve position and to assure no motor nerves will be ablated. Lidocaine (2 ml of 2%) will be administered in each location prior to RF generator activation.

A 10 cm 18-gauge RF cannula with a 10 mm active tip will be placed at the superior lateral, superior medial, and inferior medial nerve positions under fluoroscopic guidance.Control patients will undergo the same procedure without RF generator activation. Sensory stimulation at 50 Hz will be performed to identify nerve position and to assure no motor nerves will be ablated. Lidocaine (2 ml of 2%) will be administered in each location prior to RF generator sham activation.

Inclusion Criteria: Study candidate must provide written informed consent. Must be ≥ 50 years of age at the time of consent Chronic knee pain despite total knee arthroplasty at least 6 months prior to consent Orthopedic evaluation indicating no further surgery is warranted Stable pain medication regimen for 30 days prior to baseline visit Knee pain is primary pain complaint Exclusion Criteria: Acute knee pain Connective tissue disorders affecting the knee Serious neurologic or psychiatric disorders that would affect the outcome of the study as determined by the Principal Investigator Steroid or hyaluronic acid injections into the affected knee in the past 3 months Confounding pain conditions of the index leg that may affect medication requirements or study outcomes

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