A radiofrequency treatment procedure being performed on a patient's knee. [Courtesy of Yonsei Sarang Hospital]
A radiofrequency treatment procedure being performed on a patient's knee. [Courtesy of Yonsei Sarang Hospital]

Radiofrequency therapy is emerging as an alternative for patients with end-stage degenerative knee arthritis who continue to experience pain even after joint replacement surgery.

Attention is growing over whether the treatment can offer meaningful relief to patients suffering from what is known as persistent postsurgical pain, or PPP. According to Yonsei Sarang Hospital, radiofrequency nerve treatment has recently been gaining traction as an option for PPP patients who have undergone knee replacement surgery.

The procedure uses a real-time imaging device known as a C-arm to pinpoint pain-generating nerves before applying radiofrequency thermal energy to reduce their sensitivity or modulate pain signal transmission. Because it is performed with a needle rather than an incision, it carries less risk than procedures requiring general anesthesia. The relatively short procedure time also makes it safe for elderly patients and those with underlying conditions, the hospital said.

The pain-relief results have been encouraging. When Yonsei Sarang Hospital's joint replacement center administered radiofrequency treatment to PPP patients who had reported persistent pain for six months or more after knee replacement surgery, roughly 70 percent experienced pain relief.

Particularly notable is the use of thermal energy at around 40 degrees Celsius — well below the high temperatures used in conventional nerve-blocking methods — which modulates rather than aggressively disrupts nerve function, reducing the burden of recovery.

A study published in an international pain medicine journal, involving researchers from the Mayo Clinic, found that patients with chronic pain following knee replacement surgery who underwent radiofrequency nerve ablation saw pain scores on the Visual Analog Scale drop by more than half, with effects lasting from six months to over a year after treatment. The treatment was also associated with improvements in walking ability, sleep quality and overall life satisfaction.

"Even when joint replacement surgery is structurally successful, some patients continue to experience pain due to nerve sensitivity or chronic inflammation," said Ko Yong-gon, director of Yonsei Sarang Hospital. "Radiofrequency nerve treatment can serve as a non-surgical alternative that improves quality of life for patients suffering from postsurgical pain."


ko@heraldcorp.com