Pulsed radiofrequency of suprascapular nerve for chronic shoulder pain: a randomized double-blind active placebo-controlled study
Pain Practice, 05/08/2012
Gofeld M et al. – Considering limitations of the study design and statistics, it seems plausible to attribute better results in the pulsed radiofrequency (pRF) group to unique properties of this physical modality.
Methods- This study was designed as a randomized active placebo–control double–blind trial.
- Because of encountered difficulties in recruitment and high rate of dropout, the study was redesigned as to allow a smaller sample size and statistical analyses were performed utilizing the last observation carry forward method.
- Lidocaine injections alone or with combination of the pRF were performed.
- Participants were followed up during 6 months, and multiple subjective and objective outcome variables were recorded.
- Thirteen of 22 participants completed 6 months follow–up.
- Dropout rate was higher in the lidocaine group.
- A significant linear trend (P < 0.05) for improvement on the numeric rating scale, Shoulder Pain and Disability Index and Constant–Murley score was observed in the pRF group, but not in the lidocaine group.
- Patients in the pRF group were on average more satisfied than the lidocaine group at 1 month (P = 0.041) and at 3 months (P = 0.035).
