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pISSN 2005-9159
eISSN 2093-0569
eISSN 2093-0569
Korean J Pain 2022; 35(2): 183-190
Published online April 1, 2022 https://doi.org/10.3344/kjp.2022.35.2.183
Copyright © The Korean Pain Society.
Babita Ghai1 
, Muthu Kumar1 , Jeetinder Kaur Makkar1 , Vijay Goni2
1Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
2Department of Orthopedics, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
Correspondence to:Jeetinder Kaur Makkar
Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Madhya Marg, Sector 12, Chandigarh 160012, India
Tel: +8847288105
Fax: +0091-172-2744401
E-mail: jeet1516@gmail.com
Handling Editor: Eunsoo Kim
Received: May 18, 2021; Revised: November 15, 2021; Accepted: December 7, 2021
This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Background: To compare ultrasound-guided pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) of the genicular nerve with the genicular nerve block using local anesthetic and steroid for management of osteoarthritis (OA) knee pain.
Methods: Thirty patients with OA knee were randomly allocated to receive either ultrasound-guided PRF of the genicular nerve (PRF group) or nerve block with bupivacaine and methylprednisolone acetate (local anesthetic steroid [LAS] group). Verbal numeric rating scale (VNRS) and Western Ontario McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) scores were measured at pre-procedure and 1-, 4-, and 12-weeks post-procedure.
Results: VNRS scores decreased significantly (P < 0.001) in both the groups at 12 weeks and other follow up times compared to baseline. Seventy-three percent of patients in the PRF group and 66% in the LAS group achieved effective pain relief (≥ 50% pain reduction) at 12 weeks (P > 0.999). There was also a statistically significant (P < 0.001) improvement in WOMAC scores in both groups at all follow up times. However, there was no intergroup difference in VNRS (P = 0.893) and WOMAC scores (P = 0.983). No complications were reported.
Conclusions: Both ultrasound-guided PRF of the genicular nerve and blocks of genicular nerve with local anesthetic and a steroid provided comparable pain relief without any complications. However, PRF of the genicular nerve is a procedure that takes much more time and equipment than the genicular nerve block.
Keywords: Anesthetics, Local, Chronic Pain, Knee, Nerve Block, Osteoarthritis, Pain Management, Pulsed Radiofrequency Treatment, Steroids, Ultrasonography, Interventional.
