High Versus Standard Voltage Pulsed Radiofrequency for Cervical Nerve Roots Injection in Refractory Chronic Unilateral Cervical Radicular Pain

Comparison Between the Effectiveness of Ultrasound-Guided High Voltage Pulsed Radiofrequency Versus Standard Voltage Pulsed Radiofrequency for Cervical Nerve Roots in Patients With Refractory Chronic Unilateral Cervical Radicular Pain

The goal of this interventional study is to compare efficacy of either standard versus supra-voltage radiofrequency cervical epidural injection in pain alleviation in population with chronic cervical radiculopathy.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age between 20 and 70 years, both genders.
• American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status grades I or II.
• Unilateral cervical radicular pain secondary to cervical disc prolapse affecting single nerve root which was refractory to conventional conservative and physiotherapy measures for 12 weeks or more.
• All candidates received 1 millilitre of 2% lidocaine via an ultrasound-guided diagnostic nerve block and informed at least 50% momentary reduction of their pain.
• Diagnosis was confirmed by cervical MRI and nerve conduction tests.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Refusal to participate.
• Cervical radiculopathy pain recurrence after surgery.
• Previous attempt of radiofrequency ablation.
• Concomitant coagulopathic state ( decompensated liver disease, clopidogrel use) .
• Metastatic lesion in the cervical vertebral column.