Radiofrequency denervation of facet joints in combination with kinesiotherapy and without it in patients with chronic non-specific neck pain

Chronic nonspecific neck pain (CNNP) is widespread and often caused by facet joint (FJ) pathology. If conservative therapy is ineffective, radiofrequency denervation (RFD) of the FJ is used.

Objective: to investigate the effectiveness of combining therapeutic exercises and RFD cervical FJ in patients with CNNP.

Material and methods. Over a period of 6 months, 60 patients (41 women and 19 men, median age 62 [52; 74] years) with CNNP were observed, in whom FJ involvement was confirmed by positive diagnostic blockade. After RFD, participants were randomised into two groups: the main group, which underwent kinesiotherapy (30 patients, including 20 women and 10 men, median age 62 [52; 74] years) and a control group (30 patients, including 21 women and 9 men, median age – 61.5 [52; 76] years). Pain intensity was assessed using a numerical rating scale (NRS), the Neck Disability Index (NDI), and the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia (TSK) 3 and 6 months after RFD.

Results. In the main group, a significant reduction in NRS, NDI and TSK indicators achieved by the third month (p<0.0001) remained unchanged at the sixth month (p>0.05). In the control group, all indicators also improved by the third month (p<0.001), but by the sixth month, a significant deterioration in all indicators was observed (p<0.05). After 3 months, the advantage in the main group was only evident in the TSK (p=0.014), but by the 6th month, the main group surpassed the control group in all parameters studied: NDI (p=0.018), NRS (p=0.038) and TSK (p=0.004).

Conclusion. In patients with CNNP, adding kinesiotherapy to RFD reduces pain, improves functional status, and reduces recurrence rates 6 months after RFD.

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