Jorge DdMF, Rohof O et al. — A Transcutaneous Randomized Pulsed Radiofrequency Application for Spine Pain Conditions: A Case Series
Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology, 2025
This Brazilian-Dutch case series reports three patients treated with transcutaneous STP (Sluijter-Teixeira-Poisson) pulsed radiofrequency for spinal conditions — all of whom had failed conservative therapy and were unwilling or unable to undergo invasive procedures. Treatment was delivered via adhesive skin patches using a Spring2 generator, with three sessions per patient.
Key findings:
- Case 1 (lumbar L5-S1 herniation with radiculopathy): VAS dropped from 8 to 0; full strength recovery; resumed sports; follow-up MRI at 24 months showed disc improvement; mild pain recurrence without functional limitation
- Case 2 (cervical C5-C6 herniation with arm radiculopathy): VAS 8 to 0; complete resolution of numbness; symptom-free at 90-day follow-up
- Case 3 (lumbar L4-L5 herniation with central stenosis): VAS to 0 after three sessions; full return to work; symptom-free at 60-day follow-up
- No adverse events reported across all three cases
Significance: The first published case series specifically documenting transcutaneous STP-PRF for spinal conditions, with MRI follow-up. Notably, the Spring2® generator is explicitly named as the treatment device throughout, making this direct clinical evidence for the Spring2's real-world application in a non-invasive spinal pain setting.