Researchers in Korea reported in the journal Pain that the use of Radiofrequency Ablation applied to nerve branches of the knee may be beneficial in treating knee joint pain due to chronic osteoarthritis. Radiofrequency Ablation uses heat generated by radio waves to destroy specific nerves and interfere with their ability to transmit pain signals. Radio waves are delivered to the targeted nerves via a probe inserted through the skin and guided into position using imaging scans. The targeted nerves included branches of the femoral, common peroneal, saphenous, tibial, and obturator nerves feeding into the knee joint.
The researchers concluded that Radiofrequency Ablation of these nerves lead to significant pain reduction and functional improvement in a subset of elderly patients with chronic knee osteoarthritic pain.
While Dr. Beny Charchian of the Orthohealing Center has long used Radiofrequency Ablation as an alternative to cortisone injections to treat low back pain with exceptional results, we are excited to see that this treatment option may extend to other joints of the body such as the knee!