What is This Treatment?
Radiofrequency (RF) thermocoagulation involves stopping pain transmission by burning pain-carrying nerve fibers with controlled heat. It is an effective treatment method for trigeminal neuralgia, facet joint pain, and chronic back-neck pain.
Benefits
- Long-term pain control
- Non-surgical treatment
- Repeatable procedure
- Day-case intervention
Treatment Process
Under fluoroscopy or CT guidance, a special RF needle is placed on the target nerve. Test stimulation is first performed to confirm the correct nerve, then controlled heat (80-90°C) is applied to ablate the nerve.
When is it used?
- Chronic lower back and neck pain originating from facet joints
- Selected facial pain syndromes such as trigeminal neuralgia
- Patients who showed temporary benefit from diagnostic blocks when more lasting relief is desired
- Appropriate neuropathic pain syndromes where conservative treatment options are insufficient
Recovery and planning
Effects after RF appear immediately in some patients and within several weeks in others. Temporary regional sensitivity or brief pain increase at the procedure area may be observed after the procedure. For lasting success, correct indication, proper targeting, and adherence to postoperative protective exercise and spine hygiene recommendations are important.
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Brain Surgery
Surgical treatment of benign and malignant brain tumors, cerebrovascular diseases and hydrocephalus.
Spine Surgery
Treatment of lumbar and cervical disc herniation, spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis, spinal cord tumors and scoliosis.
Pediatric Neurosurgery
Surgical treatment of brain and nervous system diseases in children with specialized approaches.
Functional Neurosurgery
Parkinson's, epilepsy, tremor and deep brain stimulation (DBS) treatments.
Pain Management
Chronic pain treatment, nerve blocks, RF thermocoagulation and epiduroscopy.
Peripheral Nerve Surgery
Treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome, cubital tunnel and peripheral nerve injuries.
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References
Verified neurosurgery and spine surgery reference textbooks supporting the medical framework of this treatment.
- Winn HR, ed. Youmans Neurological Surgery. 6th ed. Saunders; 2011:1836.
- Greenberg MS. Greenberg’s Handbook of Neurosurgery. 10th ed. Thieme; 2023:1865.
- Rengachary SS, Wilkins RH, eds. Neurosurgical Operative Atlas. American Association of Neurological Surgeons; 1991-2000.
- Quiñones-Hinojosa A, ed. Schmidek and Sweet: Operative Neurosurgical Techniques: Indications, Methods and Results. 7th ed. Elsevier; 2021.
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