Assess the Effectiveness of Pulse RadioFrequency in Patients With Chronic Lumbar Radicular Pain

Launched by MCMASTER UNIVERSITY · May 4, 2010

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

Methodology and Techniques:

Patients would be screened at St Joseph-East End Pain Clinic for Chronic Lumbar Radiculopathy (CLR) of at least 4 months duration. Based on the history and clinical examination, a diagnosis of CLR involving one or more spinal segments is made and noted. The patient is considered eligible for the study if a CT or MRI of lumbar spine done within the last 4 months demonstrates pathology that is concordant with the patient's clinical symptoms. The spinal level(s) targeted for treatment will be based on clinical findings, e.g. if a patient exhibits signs and symptoms...

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • \> 18 years of age
• • CLR for at least 4 months of more, with concordant findings on either MRI and CT scan
• • VAS score of at least 60/100 at presentation
• • informed consent
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • \< 18 years of age
• • patient refusal
• • any contraindication to neuraxial injection such as coagulation disturbance, anticoagulant therapy, bleeding disorder, or infection at site of injection
• • anatomical deformity or derangement, either congenital or surgical such as: extreme scoliosis, previous implant or instrumentation making it difficult to access the foramen as evidence by MRI, CT, or plain x-rays
• • uncontrolled diabetes or severe coronary vascular disease necessitating continuation of anticoagulation therapy
• • known history of psychiatric illness-such as depression or psychosis
• • presence of cancer accounting for present symptoms
• • patient's inability of communicate in English and inability to understand and fill out the required follow-up questionnaire and form
• • allergy to local anesthetics or steroid or contrast medium
• • any patient with a history of acute neurological weakness or neurodeficit in the affected limb in terms of measurable motor weakness or abnormal reflexes