Patient reported outcomes following genicular nerve radio frequency ablation for osteoarthritis-related knee pain.

Abstract

Introduction: Genicular radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a minimally invasive treatment for knee pain with variable outcomes reported. This study aimed to evaluate genicular RFA in reducing pain and identify predictors of treatment success.

Methods:  This retrospective study included 34 patients who underwent genicular RFA between April 2022 and December 2023. Data on demographics, pre- and post-procedure pain levels, and clinical variables were collected through chart reviews and follow-up surveys. The primary outcome was pain reduction at postoperative follow up. Statistical analyses were conducted to identify predictors of pain outcomes.

Results: RFA led to pain reduction in 24 patients (71%), though only 9 (26%) achieved >50% relief according to IMMPACT criteria. The mean pre-procedure pain score was 7.1 ± 1.4, which decreased to 5.2 ± 2.0 post-procedure. Lower pre-procedure Numeric Rating Score (NRS) was the strongest predictor of success (P < 0.001), while age, BMI, gender, and arthritis severity did not significantly impact outcomes.

Conclusion: While genicular RFA led to pain reduction in a majority of patients, only a subset experienced clinically significant improvement. Pre-procedure pain score was a key predictor of outcomes, suggesting the need for more refined patient selection criteria and further research into optimizing treatment targets.