Comparison of coblation annuloplasty and radiofrequency thermocoagulation for treatment of lumbar discogenic pain

This study aimed to compare the effectiveness and safety of coblation annuloplasty and radiofrequency thermocoagulation for lumbar discogenic pain.Patients who suffered from lumbar discogenic pain and underwent coblation annuloplasty and radiofrequency thermocoagulation surgery were included. A questionnaire, including the visual analo scale (VAS), MacNab criteria, pain relief rate, and any complications due to surgery, was completed by the patients with the help of a trained volunteer who was blinded to the study. Data were collected at 1 week, and 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery. Significant pain relief was defined as postoperative pain relief ≥50% compared with the preoperative state. Any complications during or after surgery were also recorded.A total of 122 patients were included; 37 patients were lost in the follow-up and 85 were evaluated. Among these, 45 patients underwent coblation annuloplasty (CA group, n = 45) and 40 underwent radiofrequency thermocoagulation procedures (RF group, n = 40).VAS pain scores were decreased at 1 week and 1, 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively compared with preoperation in both groups (P < .05). The CA group had significantly lower VAS scores at 6 and 12 months of follow-up than did the RF group (P < .05). According to the modified MacNab criteria, the proportions of patients with excellent and/or good results at 3, 6, and 12 months of follow-up were significantly higher in the CA group compared with the RF group (P < .05).Only 2 patients reported soreness at the needle insertion site in the CA group. However, 3 patients had soreness at the needle insertion site, 3 had increased intensity of low back pain, 1 had intracranial hypotension, and 2 had new numbness in the leg and foot in the RF group. At the 1-year follow-up, this numbness was present all of the time. No major complications occurred in the CA group.Our study suggests that CA is a more effective and safe minimally invasive procedure than RF for treating lumbar discogenic pain.