Mark R Williams, Annie Philip, Soun Sheen, Saumya Aujla, Changyong Feng, Shan Gao, Sarah Kralovic, Joseph Poli, Tammy Ortiz, Tatsiana Stefanos, Janet Pennella-Vaughan, Jennifer S Gewandter
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Introduction: Many physicians administer steroids after radiofrequency ablation (RFA) to mitigate postprocedural inflammation and decrease postprocedural pain. However, robust evidence supporting the benefits of steroids after RFA is lacking and steroids have risks.
Methods: This study was a single-center, prospective, observational study designed to assess whether RFA alone is inferior to RFA with steroids for postprocedure pain. Eligible patients were at least 18 years of age and scheduled to undergo cervical or lumbar RFA. The primary outcome measure was the average pain score on the numeric rating scale (NRS) 7 days after the RFA. The secondary outcome measures included anxiety, depression and physical function, measured via the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System short forms. All outcome measures were completed prior to the procedure and at 7 and 60 days postprocedure.
Results: Out of the 365 participants who completed baseline assessments, 175 received steroids and 190 did not receive steroids. The pain intensity at 7 days postprocedure was similar between the steroid and non-steroid groups (mean difference (steroid-non-steroid): -0.23). The 95% CI of the estimate (-0.76 to 0.30) was within the prespecified non-inferiority margin of 1.5 NRS points. Similar results were obtained for pain at 60 days (mean difference: 0.09; 95% CI -0.48 to 0.65). No significant differences between groups were observed for anxiety, depression or physical function at either 7 or 60 days.
Conclusion: This study suggests that the addition of steroids to the RFA procedure does not provide added benefits and is therefore not worth the additional risks that they pose.
期刊介绍:
Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine, the official publication of the American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine (ASRA), is a monthly journal that publishes peer-reviewed scientific and clinical studies to advance the understanding and clinical application of regional techniques for surgical anesthesia and postoperative analgesia. Coverage includes intraoperative regional techniques, perioperative pain, chronic pain, obstetric anesthesia, pediatric anesthesia, outcome studies, and complications.
Published for over thirty years, this respected journal also serves as the official publication of the European Society of Regional Anaesthesia and Pain Therapy (ESRA), the Asian and Oceanic Society of Regional Anesthesia (AOSRA), the Latin American Society of Regional Anesthesia (LASRA), the African Society for Regional Anesthesia (AFSRA), and the Academy of Regional Anaesthesia of India (AORA).