COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF EFFICACY OF PERCUTANEOUS INTRADISCAL RADIOFREQUENCY ABLATION AND PLATELET RICH PLASMA INJECTION FOR DISCOGENIC LOW BACK PAIN: A PROSPECTIVE RANDOMIZED TRIAL

Background: Discogenic pain is a common, yet underdiagnosed cause of low backache, for which a wide array of radiofrequency (RF) ablative techniques and regenerative therapies have been tried with variable results. The objective of the study was to compare pain relief and improvement in function between percutaneous intradiscal RF ablation and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection for the treatment of discogenic low backache. Methods: This double-blind, randomized, parallel-group interventional study was carried out in patients with chronic lumbar discogenic pain. Twenty-four patients each in percutaneous intradiscal radiofrequency (PIRF) ablation (Group R) and PRP injection (Group P) groups were analyzed. Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) were calculated before the procedure, and at 3 and 6 months after the procedure. Results: At 3 months, NRS score was significantly less in group R compared to group P ([Formula: see text]). However at 6 months, there was no statistically significant difference between NRS and ODI of both groups ([Formula: see text] and 0.369, respectively). Both NRS and ODI decreased significantly over 6 months within each group. Conclusion: No significant difference in efficacy of PIRF ablation and intradiscal PRP injection was observed at 6 months follow-up, although there was a significant improvement in pain and disability with both the procedures.