Functional outcome and pain relief in primary osteoarthritis knee after radio-frequency treatment: a prospective randomised comparison between pulsed radio-frequency of saphenous nerve and adductor canal

Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common cause of knee pain and disability. Many non-invasive treatments to treat OA knee pain are available however, they provide only short-term relief. Radio frequency ablation (RFA)of genicular nerves and pulsed radio frequency(PRF) of saphenous nerve (SN) have shown long lasting relief. The adductor canal (AC), which contains saphenous nerve along with other sensory nerves, which supply knee, has been effectively used for postoperative analgesia after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). We have a hypothesis that, PRF of adductor canal (PRF-AC) will provide effective and sustained pain relief in OA knee pain. As there is no comparative study, we wish to conduct a randomised, double blinded comparative study of PRF of saphenous nerve (PRF-SN) and PRF-AC for OA knee pain. Two group of 25 patients in each group will be given either PRF-SN or PRF-AC and will be compared for analgesic efficacy and duration of pain relief. Western Ontario and Mc master Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), OXFORD knee score and Visual analogue score (VAS) will be used for assessment of functional outcome along with pain relief. Any complication of procedure, patient satisfaction and change in the medicine use will also be compared. If PRF-AC found to be effective to provide long-term relief, will open a new avenue of management in OA knee pain.