The role of radiocontrast agents in the pulsed radiofrequency treatment of lumbar dorsal root ganglion

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of contrast agent use on procedure time and accuracy in pulsed radiofrequency treatment of the lumbar dorsal root ganglion. Patients and Methods: Patients aged 23–79 years with lumbar radicular pain due to disc herniation for at least 3 months were randomized into two groups of 35 patients each. Patients in both groups underwent fluoroscopy-guided pulsed radiofrequency treatment of the dorsal root ganglion at the level of the L5 foramen. In the radiocontrast group, unlike the control group, the location of the ganglion was determined by administering the contrast agent before the radiofrequency treatment. Results: Procedure time in the radiocontrast group was significantly longer than in the control group (P< 0.05). In 50 cases ganglion was detected in the extraforaminal or intraforaminal location, the excitation of the ganglion in the range of 0.4–0.6 V was significantly higher in the radiocontrast group (95.8%) than in the control group (69.2%) (P< 0.05). Conclusion: The use of radiocontrast material in pulsed radiofrequency application on the dorsal root ganglion prolongs the procedure time. However, for ganglia that cannot be detected by stimulation, contrast injection is useful on procedural accuracy