最新的治疗方法可以减轻慢性背痛

PRF是可治疗慢性背痛的另一种可选择的方法。

西班牙的学者回顾了接受75次PRF治疗的腰背神经痛(DRG)病人的病历。这些病人按照损伤的原因分成三组：疝气、脊椎腔狭窄以及失败手术综合症。这项技术的止痛效应按照基础水平通过10个数量等级(NRS)进行评价。并按照国际上的GPE在治疗的30、60、90、180天分别做出评价（打分）。

研究表明使用新方法治疗背痛病人后，疝气病人组疼痛减轻明显，脊椎腔狭窄组也有明显的改善，但失败背部手术综合症组没有明显的效应。GPE打分的结果也支持上述结果。整个研究过程中没有出现并发症。这项研究发表于疼痛实践2007年3月号。

射频消融（RF）是广泛使用的治疗慢性背疼的方法，但其最大的缺点是能破坏神经，这一点常被视为最不恰当的地方。除外，与慢性背痛相关的已存在的情况，诸如神经损伤或神经病变引起的疼痛使得RF成为颇具争议的治疗方法。

PRF的使用能减轻甚至消除这些风险，为这些低位背痛病人提供安全、有效的疼痛减轻方法。第一作者David Abej解释道。

New Treatment Offers Chronic Back Pain Relief

A new study has found that a treatment known as pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) is a useful alternative in treating chronic back pain.
 
Researchers at the Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro (Madrid, Spain) conducted a retrospective analysis of 54 consecutive patients who underwent 75 PRF procedures applied to the lumbar dorsal root ganglion (DRG). The patients were divided into three groups according to the etiology of the lesion: herniated disc, spinal stenosis, and failed back surgery syndrome. The analgesic efficacy of the technique was assessed using a 10-point Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) at baseline, and along with the Global Perceived Effect (GPE), at 30, 60, 90, and 180 days. Since PRF does not involve drugs, it may be repeated multiple times.

The researchers found that PRF yielded significant improvements for herniated disc patients and notable improvements for those with spinal stenosis, but not in those with failed back surgery syndrome. The GPE scores confirmed these finding. No complications were noted. This study was published in the March 2007 issue of Pain Practice. 

Radiofrequency (RF) thermolesioning is a widespread treatment for chronic back pain, but because of its neurodestructive nature, it is often considered an unsuitable treatment. Additionally, preexisting conditions that accompany chronic back pain, such as neurologic lesions or neuropathic pain contribute in making conventional RF a controversial treatment.

he use of PRF could reduce or potentially even eliminate these risks, providing safe, effective pain relief for patients with a variety of lower back pain conditions,?said lead author David Abej M.D.