PRF是可治療慢性背痛的另一種可選擇的方法。

西班牙的學者回顧了接受75次PRF治療的腰背神經(jīng)痛(DRG)病人的病歷。這些病人按照損傷的原因分成三組：疝氣、脊椎腔狹窄以及失敗手術綜合癥。這項技術的止痛效應按照基礎水平通過10個數(shù)量等級(NRS)進行評價。并按照國際上的GPE在治療的30、60、90、180天分別做出評價（打分）。

研究表明使用新方法治療背痛病人后，疝氣病人組疼痛減輕明顯，脊椎腔狹窄組也有明顯的改善，但失敗背部手術綜合癥組沒有明顯的效應。GPE打分的結果也支持上述結果。整個研究過程中沒有出現(xiàn)并發(fā)癥。這項研究發(fā)表于疼痛實踐2007年3月號。

射頻消融（RF）是廣泛使用的治療慢性背疼的方法，但其最大的缺點是能破壞神經(jīng)，這一點常被視為最不恰當?shù)牡胤健３猓c慢性背痛相關的已存在的情況，諸如神經(jīng)損傷或神經(jīng)病變引起的疼痛使得RF成為頗具爭議的治療方法。

PRF的使用能減輕甚至消除這些風險，為這些低位背痛病人提供安全、有效的疼痛減輕方法。第一作者David Abej解釋道。

New Treatment Offers Chronic Back Pain Relief

A new study has found that a treatment known as pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) is a useful alternative in treating chronic back pain.
 
Researchers at the Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro (Madrid, Spain) conducted a retrospective analysis of 54 consecutive patients who underwent 75 PRF procedures applied to the lumbar dorsal root ganglion (DRG). The patients were divided into three groups according to the etiology of the lesion: herniated disc, spinal stenosis, and failed back surgery syndrome. The analgesic efficacy of the technique was assessed using a 10-point Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) at baseline, and along with the Global Perceived Effect (GPE), at 30, 60, 90, and 180 days. Since PRF does not involve drugs, it may be repeated multiple times.

The researchers found that PRF yielded significant improvements for herniated disc patients and notable improvements for those with spinal stenosis, but not in those with failed back surgery syndrome. The GPE scores confirmed these finding. No complications were noted. This study was published in the March 2007 issue of Pain Practice. 

Radiofrequency (RF) thermolesioning is a widespread treatment for chronic back pain, but because of its neurodestructive nature, it is often considered an unsuitable treatment. Additionally, preexisting conditions that accompany chronic back pain, such as neurologic lesions or neuropathic pain contribute in making conventional RF a controversial treatment.

he use of PRF could reduce or potentially even eliminate these risks, providing safe, effective pain relief for patients with a variety of lower back pain conditions,?said lead author David Abej M.D.