Cooled Radiofrequency (RF) Hip Denervation

Chronic Hip Joint Pain

Chronic Hip Joint Pain is a common condition that impacts about 7% of men and 10% of women in individuals over the age of 45. According to Dr. Suneil (Neil) Jolly, “The causes of chronic hip pain can vary and include trauma such as hip fractures, dislocations, and labral tears, sequelae from lumbar spine/sacroiliac joint pathology, bursitis, osteoarthritis, surgery, cancer, and avascular necrosis. Conservative treatment can include physical therapy, weight loss, a variety of pharmacologic agents ranging from nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to opioids, and intra-articular injections with various substances.” The definitive treatment of hip pain is primarily centered on hip arthroplasty. Based on the anatomy of the innervation, there are targets for potential denervation and reduction of hip pain. Some approaches included conventional radiofrequency. Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is an outpatient procedure in which a specialized needle is used to apply heat directly to the nerves that are causing pain. After a nerve is heated in this way, it is unable to continue sending pain signals. Radiofrequency ablation is most commonly used to treat pain arising from the joints between the vertebrae in the spine, called facet joints. As outlined in the picture below, Dr. Suneil (Neil) Jolly has presented and published an article regarding a novel way to approach radiofrequency ablation to treat chronic hip pain. He was the first physician along with his colleagues in the US to present this published data on a new treatment for hip pain.

Click HERE to read the entire article.

Image Credits: Pain Physician 2018; 21:279-284 • ISSN 1533-3159
Cooled Radiofrequency Neurotomy of the Articular Sensory Branches of the Obturator and Femoral Nerves – Combined Approach Using Fluoroscopy and Ultrasound Guidance: Technical Report, and Observational Study on Safety and Efficacy
Authors: Leonardo Kapural, MD, PhD, Suneil Jolly, MD, Joao Mantoan, MD, Harish Badhey, MD,and Ty Ptacek, MD

Cooled Radiofrequency (RF) Hip Denervation

Cooled Radiofrequency is a thermal radiofrequency system that uses water-cooled technology to deactivate pain-causing sensory nerves. Radiofrequency energy is delivered through water-cooled electrodes that create large lesions that help physicians to achieve the best approach angle to reach and treat nerves. In a study performed by Dr. Suneil (Neil) Jolly and additional physicians, they described a technique where patients underwent ablation of the sensory articular branches of the hip using Cooled Radiofrequency and guided by ultrasound (US) and fluoroscopy. The results of this combined process enabled the physicians to create a predictable procedure time and a consistently safe procedure for the Radiofrequency denervations. The procedure resulted in similar and consistent improvements in patients’ pain scores. To see the complete results from the study, click HERE.