RF Safe

Pulsed mode radiofrequency lesioning of the suprascapular nerve for the treatment of chronic shoulder pain.

Pain physician · 2003 · Benefit · Very low evidence

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BenefitVery low evidencePaper 3687

A fluoroscopically guided series of suprascapular nerve pulsed mode radiofrequency treatments was reported in a single case. Each treatment provided approximately 4–5 months of pain relief and improved shoulder function, without deterioration in muscle streng…

Study snapshot

PublicationPain physician · 2003
Study typecase_report
Reported directionBenefit
Evidence ratingVery low

Abstract

Suprascapular nerve blockade improves pain, range of motion, and disability in acute and chronic shoulder pain. Pain relief usually lasts several hours with local anesthetic. If steroids are added, the relief lasts several weeks. Since repetitive steroid exposure is associated with several hazards, alternative long-term therapies would be desirable. Pulsed mode radiofrequency is a non-destructive, safe, and repeatable long-term pain control therapy. We report a case, wherein a series of fluoroscopically guided, suprascapular nerve pulsed mode RF treatments were performed. Each provided 4-5 months of pain relief and improvement in shoulder function, without deterioration in muscle strength.

Machine Enhanced Logic

AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typecase_report
Effect directionbenefit
PopulationPerson with chronic shoulder pain (case report)
Sample size1
Exposureseries of treatments; each provided 4–5 months of pain relief
Evidence strengthVery lowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

A fluoroscopically guided series of suprascapular nerve pulsed mode radiofrequency treatments was reported in a single case. Each treatment provided approximately 4–5 months of pain relief and improved shoulder function, without deterioration in muscle strength.

Outcomes measured

  • pain relief
  • shoulder function improvement
  • muscle strength (no deterioration)

Limitations

  • Single case report
  • No quantitative exposure parameters (e.g., frequency, power, SAR) reported in abstract
  • No control/comparator described
View raw extracted JSON
{
  "study_type": "case_report",
  "exposure": {
    "band": null,
    "source": "pulsed mode radiofrequency lesioning (suprascapular nerve treatment)",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "series of treatments; each provided 4–5 months of pain relief"
  },
  "population": "Person with chronic shoulder pain (case report)",
  "sample_size": 1,
  "outcomes": [
    "pain relief",
    "shoulder function improvement",
    "muscle strength (no deterioration)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "A fluoroscopically guided series of suprascapular nerve pulsed mode radiofrequency treatments was reported in a single case. Each treatment provided approximately 4–5 months of pain relief and improved shoulder function, without deterioration in muscle strength.",
  "effect_direction": "benefit",
  "limitations": [
    "Single case report",
    "No quantitative exposure parameters (e.g., frequency, power, SAR) reported in abstract",
    "No control/comparator described"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "very_low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "pulsed radiofrequency",
    "radiofrequency lesioning",
    "suprascapular nerve",
    "chronic shoulder pain",
    "nerve block",
    "fluoroscopy",
    "pain relief"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": []
}
AI can be wrong. Always verify against the paper.

AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: Not supplied
PubMed: 16871304

Read the original paper →

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