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Response to conventional treatments for knee osteoarthritis (e.g., nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, steroid or hyaluronic acid injections) often is suboptimal. In this manufacturer-sponsored, multicenter U.S. study, researchers examined whether cooled radiofrequency ablation (CRFA; i.e., thermal damage of targeted genicular nerves to interrupt the transmission of pain signals) is an effective, minimally invasive option for pain relief.
One hundred eighty-two patients with refractory OA pain underwent diagnostic nerve blocks; if they achieved >50% pain relief, they were randomized to receive either CRFA on four genicular nerves or a single injection of hyaluronic acid. At 6 months after treatment, the CRFA group showed significant improv…