Management of pain on hallux valgus with percutaneous intra-articular Pulse-Dose Radiofrequency

Abstract

Our experience shows pulse-dose radiofrequency is a safe, repeatable and effective technique for managing patients with symptomatic hallux valgus in the short and medium term. Pulse-dose radiofrequency may improve pain control and quality of life in patients with hallux valgus refractory to conservative therapies.

Pulse-dose radiofrequency can reduce chronic pain in trapezio-metacarpal osteoarthritis: A mini-invasive therapeutic approach

“…The PDRF is a technical evolution of PRF . In PDRF as in PRF, pulse parameters include an amplitude of 45 V and an “active phase” with 20 msec duration, followed by a 480 msec silent phase . In PDRF, if the tissue temperature exceeds 45–50°C, the RF system stops the next pulse until the temperature does not reach normal values .…”

“…In 2014 Masala et al . documented PDRF clinical effectiveness, defined as pain relief and safety, as the absence of complications, for patients with chronic pain due to knee OA, hallux valgus and pudendal neuralgia …”

“…Similar parameters were used by Masala et al . for treatment of symptomatic knee OA, pudendal neuralgia and hallux valgus in order to achieve tissue temperatures under 45–50°C …”

“…PRF employs high‐frequency electrical currents, as in CRF, with sufficient energy to modulate the electrical field, but insufficient to cause irreversible damage to the targeted tissues. The PDRF procedure is inherently the same as PRF, but instead of modulating the amplitude or width of the consecutive pulses in order to keep the temperature under a certain threshold, in the PDRF technique the generator would wait until the temperature drops to give the next pulse with the same characteristics as the previous ones . The efficacy of the PDRF technique has been investigated by Masala et al .…”

“…The efficacy of the PDRF technique has been investigated by Masala et al . in the management of chronic pain in patients with knee OA, pudendal neuralgia and hallux valgus . The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of PDRF in management of chronic pain due to trapezio‐metacarpal OA.…”