Table 3 Studies demonstrating the effects of PRF on spinal pain conditions

Van Zundert et al.[37]

18 patients with cervical headache and cervico-brachialgia; PRF-DRG

13/18 patients >50% pain relief at 8 weeks, at 1 year 6 patients had continuing pain relief; no complications reported

First documented evidence of PRF treatment in cervical syndromes

Van Zundert et al.[16] P, R, DB, RCT, sham controlled

23 patients with Cervico brachial pain; 11 patients had PRF-DRG and 12 had Sham

3 months - 82% patients in the PRF-DRG group and 25–33% in the Sham group had successful results (P = 0.02–0.03)

PRF-DRG may provide pain relief in patients with cervico-brachial pain

Tsou et al.[38] Retrospective

127 patients; group A - back pain without lower limb pain, group B - back pain with lower limb pain

Successful treatment shown; At 3 months: Group A - 27/45 and Group B - 37/78 patients At 1 year: Group A - 20–45 patients and Group B - 34/74 patients

Pulsed radiofrequency applied at the L-2 DRG is safe and effective for treating for chronic low-back pain

Kroll et al.[22] Prospective, DB, randomised

50 patients treated with CRF or PRF of lumbar facets, and assessed with VAS, ODI -measured at baseline and 3 months

No difference in the two groups, however over time the CRF patients showed better scores than PRF

Effects of PRF may be limited by time when compared to CRF

Simopoulous et al.[25] Pilot - prospective RCT

26 patients with lumbosacral radicular pain grouped to PRF-DRG or PRF-DRG followed by CRF-DRG

At 2 months 70% of PRF showed significant reduction of pain scores compared to 83% in CRF after PRF, no statistical difference

PRF-DRG appears to be a good treatment without side effects for lumbosacral radicular pain

Lindner et al.[39] Retrospective study

48 patients with positive diagnostic blockade of lumbar medial branch, had PRF

21/29 patients with no previous surgery and 5/19 patients with previous surgery showed successful pain relief at 4 months, significant difference in PRF efficacy in between groups (P = 0.0028)

PRF of lumbar medial branch for facetogenic pain is safe and works well in patients who have not had back surgeries

Texiera et al.[40] Prospective, case series

8 patients with discography confirmed discogenic pain - intradiscal PRF

Significant drop in NRS scores at 3 months, 4 patients were reportedly pain free after 12 months

Intradiscal PRF merits a controlled prospective study

Chao et al.[15]

154 patients with cervical (n = 49), lumbar (n = 105) radicular pain due to herniated disc and FBSS

At 3 months 27/49 in cervical and 52/105 in lumbar patients had pain relief >50%

Application of PRF is a safe and useful intervention for cervical and lumbar radicular pain

Texiera et al.[14] Retrospective study

13 patients with lumbosacral radicular pain due to herniated disc had PRF-DRG

Significant pain reduction (P = 0.01), was found in 11 patients from 4 weeks lasting up to 15 months, only 1 patient had a small area of low sensation at L3 area in the last follow-up

PRF may potentially be a viable alternative for epidural steroid injections in the treatment of radicular pain

Shabat et al.[41] Retrospective

28 patients with chronic neuropathic pain of spinal origin had PRF-DRG

19 patients had successful pain relied lasting for an year, with no reported complication

PRF is a safe and an effective procedure for patients who suffer from chronic neuropathic pain from spinal origin

Tekin et al.[23] Prospective RCT

60 patients grouped with clinical diagnosis of facet joint pain - grouped into LA, PRF, and CRF groups

Pain relief in PRF and CRF better, however in the follow-up period the relief was not sustained in the PRF group

Pain relief with PRF is comparable to CRF, but the duration of effect is shorter

Mikeladze et al.[42] Retrospective study

114 patients with cervical and lumbar pain, responsive to diagnostic medial branch block-PRF

68 patients had significant pain relief lasting at least 4 months

PRF of medial branch is a successful intervention in selected patients with no complications