Janssens P et al. — Transcutaneous Pulsed Radiofrequency Treatment in Patients with Osteoarthritis of the Upper Extremity
Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, August 2024
This Dutch retrospective study from Amphia Hospital (Breda, The Netherlands) is the first to examine TcPRF specifically for upper extremity OA. Thirty-seven patients with shoulder, elbow, or hand/wrist OA — the majority having experienced pain for over a year — received a single 15-minute TcPRF treatment using a Springlife Medical device (Spring2), with follow-up at 1, 2, and 6 weeks.
Key findings:
- Pain at rest improved significantly at 6 weeks (NRS median 6 → 5, p=0.023, moderate effect size r=-0.44)
- Pain during activity improved significantly at all follow-up moments from week 1 onward (NRS median 8 → 7, p=0.002–0.006, moderate to large effect sizes r=-0.45 to -0.51)
- 5% of patients reported overall improvement; 41.5% reported no change; only 12.2% experienced deterioration
- No adverse events were recorded; mild tingling and heat sensations during treatment were reported in 37% of cases and resolved immediately
- Less than a third of patients progressed to invasive treatment
Significance: First clinical evidence for TcPRF in upper extremity OA, using the Spring2-device at minimal dosage. The results meet the minimal clinically important difference threshold, supporting TcPRF as a safe, earlier-line treatment option before considering surgery.