Pulsed and Continous Radiofrequency Current Adjacent to the Cervical Dorsal Root Ganglion of the Rat Induces Late Cellular Activity in the Dorsal Horn

Abstract

The authors demonstrated a late neuronal activity in the dorsal horn after exposure of the cervical dorsal root ganglion to different radiofrequency modalities, which was not temperature dependent.

Radiofrequency Treatments for Neuropathic Pain: Review and New Approaches

“…We cannot explain the relationship between the elevation in sensory stimulation threshold and the prolonged pain relief after L-PRF. This observed decline in sensory perception may reflect the prompt analgesic effect of L-PRF, which raises the possibility that this phenomenon induces long-term changes in gene expression that underlie neuronal plasticity (Van Zundert et al, 2005).…”

“…These studies reported increased c-Fos expression in the dorsal horn (Higuchi et al, 2002;Van Zundert et al, 2005), increased expression of activating transcription factor 3 (Hamann et al, 2006), and morphological changes in the DRG or the peripheral nerve (Erdine et al, 2009;Erdine et al, 2005;Podhajsky et al, 2005;Protasoni et al, 2009;Tun et al, 2009). …”

“…Secondary effects on the nervous system after PRF application have been studied in animal models (Erdine et al, 2009;Erdine et al, 2005;Hamann et al, 2006;Higuchi et al, 2002;Podhajsky et al, 2005;Protasoni et al, 2009;Tun et al, 2009;Van Zundert et al, 2005). These studies reported increased c-Fos expression in the dorsal horn (Higuchi et al, 2002;Van Zundert et al, 2005), increased expression of activating transcription factor 3 (Hamann et al, 2006), and morphological changes in the DRG or the peripheral nerve (Erdine et al, 2009;Erdine et al, 2005;Podhajsky et al, 2005;Protasoni et al, 2009;Tun et al, 2009).…”

Evaluation of Pulsed Radiofrequency Denervation in the Treatment of Chronic Facetjoint Pain: An Observational Study

“…In a frequently adopted practice of holding the average T background at or somewhat below about 42°C, PRF also differs from CRF, in that the spatial extent of continuously elevated temperatures is much less than with CRF (7). Van Zuntdert et al (8) demonstrated that PRF on rat dorsal root ganglia at 42 °C for 8 minutes increases c-Fos expression in the dorsal horn. PRF has a selective effect on small unmyelinated fibres (C-fibers), leaving myelinated fibers (A-Delta fibers) unaffected.…”

Application of Radiofrequency in Low Back Pain Treatment

“…For example, a marker for neuronal activity in the dorsal horn, c-Fos, has been reported to be expressed immediately and up to 7 days after PRF treatment in rat models (Higuchi et al, 2002;Van Zundert et al, 2005). The long lasting effect of c-Fos expression was caused by non thermal RF but inhibition of excitatory C-fiber responses was seen in long-term depression (Richebé et al, 2005).…”