TY - JOUR
T1 - Evaluation of internally cooled radiofrequency ablation targeting multiple shoulder nerves for chronic shoulder pain relief and function restoration
T2 - A prospective study
AU - Yoshida, Mitsukuni
AU - Park, Peter K.
AU - Thang, Loc V.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2025 The Author(s).
PY - 2025/7/1
Y1 - 2025/7/1
N2 - Objective Shoulder pain is a prevalent musculoskeletal disorder, affecting up to 70% of adults over their lifetimes. Recently, radiofrequency ablation (RFA) has gained attention as a treatment for joint pain. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of internally cooled RFA (icRFA) in alleviating shoulder pain and improving both qualitative and quantitative measures of shoulder function. Design Prospective cohort study. Subjects Patients with chronic shoulder pain (n = 35) who responded positively to diagnostic blocks of the suprascapular nerve (SSN), axillary nerve (AN), and lateral pectoral nerve (LPN). Methods Patients underwent icRFA targeting the SSN, AN, and LPN. Treatment response was assessed with the numeric rating scale (NRS) for pain, the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score, and active range of motion (AROM) in flexion and abduction. Outcomes were measured at baseline and at 1, 3, and 6 months after icRFA. Patient characteristics were compared between responders and nonresponders to icRFA treatment, and correlation analyses were conducted to explore the relationship between pain relief and functional improvement. Results NRS pain levels significantly decreased at 1 month (Adjusted [Adj.] P <. 0001), 3 months (Adj. P <. 0001), and 6 months (Adj. P =. 0002) after icRFA. ASES score improved at 1 month (Adj. P <. 0001), 3 months (Adj. P <. 0001), and 6 months (Adj. P <. 0001) after icRFA. Flexion AROM improved at 1 month (Adj. P <. 0001), 3 months (Adj. P <. 0001), and 6 months (Adj. P =. 0139) after icRFA. Abduction AROM improved at 1 month (Adj. P <. 0001), 3 months (Adj. P <. 0001), and 6 months (Adj. P <. 0001) after icRFA. Conclusion iccRFA targeting the SSN, AN, and LPN is a safe and effective intervention, providing significant improvements in pain, functional activities of daily living, and AROM of the shoulder for at least 6 months.
AB - Objective Shoulder pain is a prevalent musculoskeletal disorder, affecting up to 70% of adults over their lifetimes. Recently, radiofrequency ablation (RFA) has gained attention as a treatment for joint pain. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of internally cooled RFA (icRFA) in alleviating shoulder pain and improving both qualitative and quantitative measures of shoulder function. Design Prospective cohort study. Subjects Patients with chronic shoulder pain (n = 35) who responded positively to diagnostic blocks of the suprascapular nerve (SSN), axillary nerve (AN), and lateral pectoral nerve (LPN). Methods Patients underwent icRFA targeting the SSN, AN, and LPN. Treatment response was assessed with the numeric rating scale (NRS) for pain, the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score, and active range of motion (AROM) in flexion and abduction. Outcomes were measured at baseline and at 1, 3, and 6 months after icRFA. Patient characteristics were compared between responders and nonresponders to icRFA treatment, and correlation analyses were conducted to explore the relationship between pain relief and functional improvement. Results NRS pain levels significantly decreased at 1 month (Adjusted [Adj.] P <. 0001), 3 months (Adj. P <. 0001), and 6 months (Adj. P =. 0002) after icRFA. ASES score improved at 1 month (Adj. P <. 0001), 3 months (Adj. P <. 0001), and 6 months (Adj. P <. 0001) after icRFA. Flexion AROM improved at 1 month (Adj. P <. 0001), 3 months (Adj. P <. 0001), and 6 months (Adj. P =. 0139) after icRFA. Abduction AROM improved at 1 month (Adj. P <. 0001), 3 months (Adj. P <. 0001), and 6 months (Adj. P <. 0001) after icRFA. Conclusion iccRFA targeting the SSN, AN, and LPN is a safe and effective intervention, providing significant improvements in pain, functional activities of daily living, and AROM of the shoulder for at least 6 months.
KW - functional outcomes
KW - radiofrequency ablation
KW - shoulder pain
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105010356993
U2 - 10.1093/pm/pnaf016
DO - 10.1093/pm/pnaf016
M3 - Article
C2 - 40036562
AN - SCOPUS:105010356993
SN - 1526-2375
VL - 26
SP - 397
EP - 406
JO - Pain Medicine (United States)
JF - Pain Medicine (United States)
IS - 7
ER -