Efficacy of Pulse Radiofrequency Treatment in Patients With Coxarthrosis

Hip pain caused by coxarthrosis is common in the general population and is one of the leading causes of disability in the aging population. Conservative treatments may fail due to side effects or ineffectiveness. Surgery is generally recommended for patients who do not respond to conservative treatment. Surgery is not always an appropriate option for elderly patients and patients with multiple comorbidities. For this reason, nerve block may be an appropriate treatment option for patients who do not respond to conservative treatment, who are not suitable for surgery or who do not want surgery. Pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) is a method of temporarily preventing pain transmission through heat increase in the tissue with the help of an electrode placed near the target nerve. Most of the pain sensation in the hip joint is received by the articular branches of the femoral and obturator nerves. The application of PRF to the nerves innervating the hip joint may be an effective method to reduce pain and disability in these patients.

This study was designed as a prospective, randomized, controlled trial. According to the statistical analysis, 28 patients who met the eligibility criteria were planned to be included in the study. The patients will be divided into 2 groups as the block group (n=14) and the PRF group (n=14). In procedures performed under fluoroscopy, vascular structures will be detected primarily by ultrasonography for safety purposes. Nerve block and PRF procedures will be performed in sterile conditions according to their protocols. Patients will be evaluated about pain, functional level, functional capacity and quality of life before treatment, at week 2, week 4, and week 12. If complications develop, they will be recorded.

Inclusion criteria

• Patients with unilateral and/or bilateral hip pain for more than 6 months who meet the diagnosis of coxarthrosis according to the American College of Rheumatology(ACR) criteria
• Pain intensity greater than 3 according to the visual analog pain scale
• Stage ≥2 hip osteoarthritis according to the Kellgren-Lawrence classification
• Ambulation with or without support
• Having the mental competence to express pain scores
• Signing an informed consent form stating consent to participate in the study

Exclusion criteria

• Other non-degenerative causes of hip pain (Avascular necrosis, femoraacetebular impingement syndrome, thoracenteric bursitis)
• Concomitant central nervous system and/or peripheral nervous system disease
• History of lower extremity fracture/surgery in the last 6 months
• Local infection on the hip or presence of systemic infection
• Conditions where fluoroscopy-guided injection is contraindicated like pregnancy, contrast material allergy, local anesthetic allergy, coagulopathy
• Presence of unstable systemic diseases