The Effect of Radiofrequency Ablation on the Quality of Life of Patients with Lower Back Pain
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15225/PNN.2025.14.4.4Keywords
disability, LBP, pain, quality of life, thermolesionAbstract
Introduction. Lower back pain is recognised as a leading public health problem that significantly reduces quality of life.
Aim. The aim of this study is to assess the impact of radiofrequency ablation on the quality of life of patients with lower back pain, changes in pain intensity and degree of disability.
Material and Methods. Fifty-seven patients took part in the study, 34 of whom made it to the end (22 women, 12 men), ranging in age from 33 to 81 years. Patients underwent a radiofrequency ablation, which aims to damage a small branch of a spinal nerve, thanks to the heat generated by a radiofrequency electric current flowing through the tissue.
Results. Radiofrequency nerve ablation surgery has been shown to be an effective method in the treatment of lower back pain. Furthermore, it reduces patients’ disability and the frequency with which they take pain medication. This effect lasts for at least three months.
Conclusions. Further studies should be carried out to assess the impact of thermotherapy on patients’ quality of life. The current study results presented are promising. (JNNN 2025;14(4):171–177)
References
[1] Hoy D., Bain C., Williams G. et al. A systematic review of the global prevalence of low back pain. Arthritis Rheum. 2012;64(6):2028–2037.
[2] Ferreira M.L., de Luca K., Haile L.M. et al. Global, regional, and national burden of low back pain, 1990–2020, its attributable risk factors, and projections to 2050: a systematic analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021. Lancet Rheumatol. 2023;5(6):e316–e329.
[3] GUS. Stan zdrowia ludności Polski w 2019. 2021;1–13.
[4] Sikora A., Karczewicz E. Raport. Absencja chorobowa w 2022 r. Wyd. Departament Statystyki i Prognoz Aktuarialnych, 2022. https://www.zus.pl/documents/10182/39590/Absencja+chorobowa_raport_2022.pdf (accessed: 10.09.2025).
[5] Broda M., Miler J., Jankowski K., Rogowski B., Krakowiak M., Sokal P. Interdisciplinary interventional and physiotherapy management of facet joint syndrome. Eur J Transl Clin Med. 2023;6(2):78–84.
[6] Drobnik L., Kowalski G. (Red.), Analgezja regionalna. Skrypt. Szkoła Analgezji Regionalnej, Poznań 2012.
[7] Hoppenfeld J.D. Podstawy medycyny leczenia bólu. Jak diagnozować i leczyć pacjentów. Medisfera, Warszawa 2019.
[8] Raszka A., Waliszewska R., Sokal P., Zieliński P., Harat M. Quality of Life in Patients after Lumbar Thermolesion. J Neurol Neurosurg Nurs. 2016;5(2):76–80.
[9] van Tilburg C.W., Stronks D.L., Groeneweg J.G., Huygen F.J. Randomised sham-controlled double-blind multicentre clinical trial to ascertain the effect of percutaneous radiofrequency treatment for lumbar facet joint pain. Bone Joint J. 2016;98-B(11):1526–1533.
[10] Juch J.N.S., Maas E.T., Ostelo R.W.J.G. et al. Effect of Radiofrequency Denervation on Pain Intensity Among Patients With Chronic Low Back Pain: The Mint Randomized Clinical Trials. JAMA. 2017;318(1):68–81.
[11] Poetscher A.W., Gentil A.F., Lenza M., Ferretti M. Radiofrequency denervation for facet joint low back pain: a systematic review. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2014;39(14):E842–849.
[12] Aransay Á.L.S., Valladares Á.C., Muñoz R.C. et al. Prospective analysis of radiofrequency denervation in patients with chronic low back pain. J Spine Surg. 2020;6(4):703–712.
[13] Yang A.J., Wagner G., Burnham T., McCormick Z.L., Schneider B.J. Radiofrequency Ablation for Chronic Posterior Sacroiliac Joint Complex Pain: A Comprehensive Review. Pain Med. 2021;22(Suppl 1):S9–S13.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Bartosz Rogowski, Maciej Broda, Paweł Sokal

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Stats
Number of views and downloads: 108
Number of citations: 0