Discogenic low back pain Musculoskeletal Diseases Dorsalgia
Conditions
Interventions
Prior to inclusion in the study patients undergo extensive clinical examination. Attention for pain on flexion and deflexion and the odd biphasic deflexion. Tenderness when pressure is applied on the
0 = no pain and 10 = the worst imaginable pain) is noted and the analgesic use. The causative level is treated with pulsed radiofrequency. The electrode is placed in the nucleus. Pulsed radiofrequency
Sponsors
Orbis Medical Centre Sittard-Geleen (Netherlands)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Inclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria: 1. Patients greater than 18 years old, either sex 2. Low back pain of greater than or equal to 6 months duration 3. Pharmacological treatment was used at appropriate doses for an accurate period of time without satisfactory pain relief and/or intolerable side effects 4. Physical therapy was used for a sufficiently long period of time (at least 6 weeks) to judge a potential effect 5. History and clinical examination is indicative for discogenic pain 6. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) confirms disc degeneration 7. Positive provocative discography
Exclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria: 1. Patients less than 18 years 2. Infection at the needle insertion site 3. Major coagulation disorders 4. Red flags: tumour, infection, fracture, spondylolisthesis grade 3, etc.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Pain reduction measured on a 10-point VAS score (0 = no pain, 10 = unbearable pain) at 3 months and at 12 months | — |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| 1. Side effects and complications 2. Potential effect of additional treatment after the 3 month evaluation 3. Result measurement of combined treatment at 12 months follow up | — |
Countries
Netherlands
Outcome results
None listed