Genicular Nerve Radiofrequency Ablation for Chronic Knee Pain After Total Knee Arthroplasty

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF UTAH · Nov 10, 2021

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ClinConnect Summary

Researchers at the University of Utah are studying whether a procedure called fluoroscopy-guided genicular nerve radiofrequency ablation (RFA) can help people with long-lasting knee pain after a total knee replacement. RFA uses a small amount of heat to gently quiet the nerves that carry pain from the knee, with the goal of reducing pain and helping you move more easily. This is a small, one-arm pilot study, so everyone in the study receives the treatment and there isn’t a comparison group. Pain will be measured before the procedure and then again at 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months after the RFA.

Who can participate? People aged 30 to 90 who are at least one year out from their knee replacement, have knee pain of 4/10 or more for more than 6 months, and do not need revision knee surgery may be eligible, but they must have had at least 80% relief with diagnostic blocks that test the knee nerves. Exclusion criteria include pregnancy, pacemaker or ICD, serious heart or lung problems, active infection, bleeding disorders, allergy to local anesthetic, not able to read or speak English, or significant psychiatric issues. The study is enrolling by invitation at the University of Utah Orthopaedic Center in Salt Lake City, led by Principal Investigator Lucas Anderson, MD. It started in 2021 and is expected to finish around 2027; no individual participant data will be shared publicly.

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Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Age 30 to 90 years
• • At least one year post TKA
• • Have no indications for revision TKA
• • ≥4/10 knee pain for \>6 months following TKA
• • ≥80% relief with diagnostic genicular nerve blocks
• • Willingness to undergo fluoroscopy-guided genicular nerve RFA treatment.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Conditions that preclude RFA (e.g. pregnancy, pacemaker/ICD, severe cardiac/pulmonary compromise; acute illness/infection; coagulopathy or bleeding disorder; allergic reactions/contraindications to a local anesthetic.
• • Inability to write, speak or read in English
• • Patient refusal
• • Significant psychiatric comorbidity