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Radiofrequency Ablation for Pain Management:  Expert Centre

Welcome to the RF Expert Centre

Boston Scientific provides a variety of learning opportunities that enable you to elevate your practice and  fulfil your passion for progress. Designed in partnership with our expert physician faculty, our comprehensive education programmes combine clinical theory, advanced techniques and hands-on training so that you can  achieve efficient and effective pain management through radiofrequency ablation (RFA).

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Explore Clinical Compendium

Common RF indications

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a well established, drug-free treatment that has been clinically proven to provide safe, effective, lasting relief from chronic pain ¹.².³.⁴.⁵

More than 70% of patients treated with RFA experience relief lasting anywhere from six to twelve months – and in some cases, years ³.⁴.⁵

RFA is a minimally invasive, non-surgical, procedure that targets the nerve or nerves causing pain and uses thermal energy to interrupt the pain signals at their source. It is a safe, proven means of treating pain including the following:

Graph of programming session overall pain

RF for lumbar pain

Lumbar RFA is for the treatment of lower back pain which is one of the most  common procedures performed in interventional pain practices and, perhaps,  one of the best-studied RF procedures. At the same time, lower back pain is the most ubiquitous pain condition in the general population.  

Graph of programming session overall pain

RF for sacroiliac joint pain    

The sacroiliac joint (SIJ) is a common source of pain and accounts for 15% to 30% of complaints among idiopathic lower back pain patients. The PalisadeTM block RF procedure is able to ablate the posterior SIJ structures which is a clinically safe, efficient, and standardised approach for the full denervation of the SIJ.

Graph of programming session overall pain

Pulsed RF for radicular pain

Pulsed RF is a non-coagulating technique efficiently used in the treatment of chronic refractory radiculopathies caused by lesions in the DRG (mechanical compression), the spinal nerves or its roots which lead to ischemia and inflammation of the neuronal tracts.

Graph of programming session overall pain

RF for cervical pain

Cervical RF ablation is effectively used for the treatment of chronic neck pain and cervicogenic headache arising from several structures in the cervical region including discs, roots, joints, ligaments, and myofascial structures. Chronic Neck pain is the third most reported cause of musculoskeletal complaint in the general population.

Graph of programming session overall pain

RF for knee pain

Knee RF ablation can be effectively used for the treatment of chronic pain originating from the knee – including chronic knee osteoarthritis (OA). The prevalence of knee pain in adults has been estimated to be as high as 40% and is continuously increasing with an aging population. RF ablation for OA pain is an effective, minimally invasive treatment supported by Level 1 RCT and Real-World data that shows 67% pain improvement at 3 months.¹

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Clinical Compendium

Follow the link to access and download study summaries supporting the use of BSC RF technology for: lumbar,  sacroiliac joint, radicular and cervical pain.  

Deep brain stimulaton clinical compendium

RF Product Catalogue

RF Product Catalogue

RF Full Portfolio Brochure

RF Full Portfolio Brochure

Training and Education

At Boston Scientific, we’re committed to making medical education and training more relevant, more comprehensive,  and more accessible for healthcare professionals like you, ultimately helping you to deliver the best patient care possible. Register on Educare to access the full library of Radiofrequency ablation training.

 

Lumbar Medial Branch Radiofrequency

 

Advanced Masterclass - RF for Knee Pain

 

RF Thalamotomy for  Movement Disorders

 

Why Does Lesion Size Matter?

 

RF Sacroilliac Joint - Procedural Steps

 

RF for Trigeminal Nerve Ablation

 

Dorsal root ganglion and epidural PRF

 

RF e-health tool

The e-health tool supports healthcare professionals with appropriate referral and selection of patients with chronic pain for RF.

Health care professionals looking at a DBS procedure

Events

We understand the value of hands on training and clinical discussion. Every year we run events dedicated to advancing RF practices, these provide our customers with the opportunity to upskill under the guidance of experienced experts and to practice in a state-of-the-art cadaver lab. 

To learn more about upcoming events please contact your local BSC representative.

RF Full Portfolio Brochure

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1.MacVicar J, Borowczyk JM, MacVicar AM, Loughnan BM, Bogduk N. Cervical medial branch radiofrequency neurotomy in New Zealand. Pain Med. 2012;13(5):647-654.

2. Dreyfuss P, Halbrook B, Pauza K, Joshi A, McLarty J, Bogduk N. Efficacy and validity of radiofrequency neurotomy for chronic lumbar zygapophysial joint pain. Spine. 2000;25(10):1270-1277.

3. Govind J, King W, Bailey B, Bogduk N. Radiofrequency neurotomy for the treatment of third occipital headache. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2003;74(1):88-93.

4. North RB, Wetzel FT. Spinal cord stimulation for chronic pain of spinal origin: a valuable long-term solution. Spine. 2002;27:2584-2591.

5. Kumar K, Taylor RS, Jacques L, Eldabe S, Meglio M, Molet J, Thomson S, O’Callaghan J, Eisenberg E, Milbouw G, Buchser E, Fortini G, Richardson J, North RB. The effects of spinal cord stimulation in neuropathic pain are sustained: a 24-month follow-up of the prospective randomized controlled multicenter trial of the effectiveness of spinal cord stimulation. Neurosurgery. 2008 Oct;63(4):762–70.

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