VR and Cooled Genicular Nerve Radio Frequency Ablation for Chronic Knee Pain

Launched by NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY · Mar 21, 2024

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying the use of virtual reality (VR) as a way to help manage pain for patients undergoing a procedure called genicular nerve radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for chronic knee pain. The goal is to see if using VR along with sedation can help reduce pain during the procedure compared to just using sedation alone. The researchers will also look at how satisfied patients are with the procedure and how they feel one month after the treatment in terms of pain and ability to move.

To be eligible for this trial, participants should be between the ages of 65 and 74, have chronic knee pain with a pain level of more than 4 out of 10, and show signs of osteoarthritis on an X-ray. They should have been experiencing knee pain for at least six weeks and should not have had any previous surgeries on that knee or other pain management procedures. If you join this study, you can expect to receive either VR with sedation or just sedation during your procedure, and you will be asked to share your experience and pain levels afterward.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Patients undergoing genicular RFA will be eligible for inclusion in the study
• • Patients with knee pain, baseline average of \> 4/10
• • X-ray evidence of osteoarthritis of the knee
• • Pain duration of \>6 weeks and no previous knee surgeries
• • Patients will also only be included who have never undergone a RFA on the affected knee
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Individuals who do not have evidence of osteoarthritis on X-ray,
• • Secondary gain expected to influence treatment outcomes
• • Poorly controlled psychiatric condition that could affect outcome (e.g. active substance abuse) or impose a barrier to participation
• • Chronic opioid use and anticoagulation therapy that cannot be stopped and could warrant a different treatment approach (e.g. phenol ablation)
• • Severe motion sickness
• • Seizure disorder
• • Vision loss
• • Pregnant
• • Nursing