Radiofrecuencia pulsada del ganglio de la raíz dorsal en el síndrome radicular lumbosacro crónico refractario a los esteroides epidurales.

Federico Cristiani; Santiago Ayala; Marta Surbano; Pablo Castromán

doi:10.47924/neurotarget2017152

Authors

Federico Cristiani Department and Chair of Anesthesiology, Hospital de Clínicas, Faculty of Medicine, University of the Republic, Montevideo, Uruguay.
Santiago Ayala Department and Chair of Anesthesiology, Hospital de Clínicas, Faculty of Medicine, University of the Republic, Montevideo, Uruguay.
Marta Surbano Department and Chair of Anesthesiology, Hospital de Clínicas, Faculty of Medicine, University of the Republic, Montevideo, Uruguay.
Pablo Castromán Department and Chair of Anesthesiology, Hospital de Clínicas, Faculty of Medicine, University of the Republic, Montevideo, Uruguay.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47924/neurotarget2017152

Keywords:

Lumbosacral radicular pain, Pulsed radiofrecuency, Dorsal root ganglion

Abstract

Introduction: Approximately 20% of patients with chronic lumbosacral radicular syndrome do not respond to epidural steroid injections. Pulsed radiofrequency of the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) is proposed as an alternative treatment.
Objective: To evaluate the analgesic effect of pulsed radiofrequency of the DRG in patients with chronic lumbosacral radicular syndrome, refractory to epidural steroid injections.
Patients and method: 15 patients with chronic lumbosacral radicular syndrome that pailed to improve their pain with at least two epidural steroid injections, received pulsed radiofrequency of the DRG, utilizing two cycles of 120 seconds, 45V and 42ºC. Evaluation was carried out a month later. Brief Pain Inventory was applied before procedure and one month later. A reduction of 2 points in the verbal numerical scale (VNS) assessed with the question 6 of the Brief Pain Inventory, was considered a satisfactory analgesic response. Intensity and Interference Scores were calculated.
Results: The VNS score decreased from 7.8 to 6.1. Intensity and Interference Scores were reduced from 7.0 to 5.9 and 7.2 to 6.0 respectively. In 7 patients (47%) a satisfactory analgesic response was observed. In these patients the VNS decreased from 8.3 to 3.7. Intensity and Interference Scores were reduced from 6.9 to 4.5 and 7 to 5 respectively.
Conclusion: In approximately half of the patients with chronic lumbosacral radicular syndrome refractory to epidural steroid injections, a satisfactory analgesic effect was observed. These results are similar to those found in other published studies.

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