Scientists from Georgetown University have confirmed that radiofrequency ablation of the knee nerve can significantly reduce pain in patients with knee osteoarthritis. The study was presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Interventional Radiology.
Doctors analyzed data from 36 patients who underwent radiofrequency ablation of the knee nerve from February 2022 to August 2022. On average, each was observed for about 75 days.
The researchers found a significant reduction in VAS pain scores in patients post-procedure, especially in patients over 50 years of age. On average, pain scores on the VAS scale dropped from 8.58 to 5.05 points. Gender, body mass index, previous knee surgery, and history of fibromyalgia did not significantly affect the outcome.
The authors noted that about one in four American adults experience knee pain, and this is often associated with osteoarthritis. Radiofrequency ablation of the knee nerve can enable many of these people to return to their daily activities.