Pulsed radiofrequency therapy versus @entity616 in the management of refractory cervicogenic XXXX - a pilot study.

@entity1 @entity12417 @entity134 @entity158 @entity10 @entity616
The aim of this pilot study was to compare the efficacy of pulsed radiofrequency to the greater occipital nerve versus a @entity616 with a mixture of local anaesthetic and @entity134 in the management of refractory cervicogenic @entity10 . We enrolled 30 @entity1 suffering from refractory cervicogenic @entity10 . @entity1 were randomly allocated into two groups of fifteen. A @entity616 with @entity134 was utilised in group A, while a pulsed radiofrequency treatment was employed in group B. Success of both procedures was evaluated by comparing pre and post intervention Visual Analogue Scale of @entity158 , Medication Quantification Scale - III. and Global Perceived Effect at three and 9 months after the procedures. At three months post therapy a significant decrease in Visual Analogue Scale (p<0.001) was identified (3.2 points in group A, 3.3 points in group B respectively). In group B @entity158 remained reduced even after 9 months (p<0.001) when compared to pre treatment scores. The consumption of analgesic medication was reduced significantly in both groups at three months (p<0.001) and 9 months (p<0.01), respectively. No serious complication was noted. Greater occipital nerve block is a safe, efficient technique in the management of @entity12417 . Despite the lack of high quality scientific evidence (level III or IV) in the literature, we have extensive experience with @entity134 application and pulsed radiofrequency to the greater occipital nerve and report the beneficial results in our study.
