Effectiveness of Pulsed Radiofrequency of the Saphenous Nerve in the Management of Knee Arthroplasty Pain

Overview

Approximately 40% of patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty develop acute to moderate post operative pain. Furthermore 20-30% develop chronic post operative pain. The objective of this work is to study the effectiveness and safety of pulsed radiofrequency of the saphenous nerve realized during the pre-operative period of total knee arthroplasty. The study design is a randomized, blinded clinical trial. Patients scheduled for total knee arthroplasty are divided into two groups. The first group procedure consists in pre-operative pulsed radiofrequency under ultrasound guidance of the saphenous nerve and standard postoperative pain management by the pain clinic. The second group receives only the standard postoperative pain management by the pain clinic. Patient follow ups are performed 3 times (after 2 weeks, 2 months and 6 months) within a period of 6 months, evaluating pain severity using the VAS.

Methods Study Design Randomized, blinded clinical trial. Patients are divided into two groups, one to saphenous nerve block with pulsed radiofrequency guided by ultrasound is applied plus standard pain management by the Pain Clinic, the other one only standard pain management by the Pain Clinic. A 6-month follow-up is evaluating pain by VAS and function by the WOMAC scale Objectif Asses the effectivity and safety of preoperatory saphenous nerve pulsed radiofrecuency in total knee arthroplasty between 2014 and 2015 in the Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá Hospital. Statistical Analysis Sample size was calculated using "Sample Size 1.0". The following parameters where used to calculate the sample size for a clinical trial: Two tails, type I error independent variables 5%, type II error 20%, outcome variable: visual analogue scale from 0 to 100 mm, with a standard deviation of 10 mm and a relevant clinical difference between groups of 20 mm. Additionally, the WOMAC scale, from 0 to 96 points, with a standard deviation of 17 and a relevant clinical difference of 20 points between groups for the three subscales: pain, rigidity and functional capacity, normalized to 100 points each. A sample size of 41 patients per group is calculated. An adjustment of 20% to compensate possible losses is applied, to a total of 50 patients per group. Once gathered, the data is processed using the statistical program "Wizard" version 1.7.17. posteriorly, variables are standardized and a descriptive analysis is performed. Central tendency and dispersion measures are performed to the continuous variables. Percentage distribution and proportion measures are calculated to the categorical variables.