椎间盘内高电压长时间持续脉冲射频用于椎间盘源性疼痛的治疗().pdf

Blackwell Publishing IncMalden, USAPMEPain Medicine1526-2375American Academy of Pain Medicine200675424428Original ArticlePulsed Radiofrequency for Discogenic PainTeixeira and Sluijter PAIN MEDICINE Volume 7 • Number 5 • 2006 Preliminary Research Intradiscal High-Voltage, Long-Duration Pulsed Radiofrequency for Discogenic Pain: A Preliminary Report Alexandre Teixeira, MD,* and Menno E. Sluijter, MD, PhD† *Clinica de Dor, Porto, Portugal; † Pain Unit, Swiss Paraplegic Center, Nottwil, Switzerland A B S T R A C T ABSTRACT Background. Intradiscal radiofrequency, with the electrode placed in the center of the nucleus pulposus, has been a controversial procedure in patients with discogenic pain. Possibly the effect has not been due to the production of heat, but to exposure to electric fields. Design. We have investigated the effect of high-voltage, long-duration intradiscal pulsed radio- frequency in patients with one-level discogenic low back pain, as confirmed by discography. Outcome Measure. The pain intensity score on a 0–10 numeric rating scale (NRS) was taken as outcome measure. Patients. Eight patients were reported. The mean duration of pain was 6.3 years (range 0.5–16, median 4). The mean NRS score was 7.75 (range 5–9). Disc height was reduced 60% in one patient and up to 30% in the others. Intervention. A 15-cm, 20-gauge needle with a 15-mm active tip was placed centrally in the disc.