AIM This study sets out to test the biocompatibility of titanium clips in liver, in the presence of radiofrequency. Biocompatibility is assessed at various distances from the RF electrode and different points in time. METHOD It is an experimental study conducted on pigs and makes use of histological changes that occur at the liver-titanium interface in presence of RF to test hypotheses. The t...

BACKGROUND Chronic knee pain is a major widespread problem causing significant impairment of daily function. Pulsed radiofrequency has been shown to reduce severe chronic joint pain as a non-pharmacological and less invasive treatment method. OBJECTIVE We aimed to compare the effectiveness of unipolar and bipolar intraarticular pulsed radiofrequency methods in chronic knee pain control. STU...

BACKGROUND Headaches emanating from sources in the cervical spine, so-called cervicogenic headache (CGH), are much more common than is usually thought by practitioners not trained in musculoskeletal medicine. OBJECTIVE This article outlines a basic clinical assessment of the neck which will enable the general practitioner to determine whether or not there is a possible neck source for the pre...

We describe measurements of plasma properties of pulsed, low pressure, capacitively coupled discharges operated in argon. The research aims to determine the effect of modulating the radiofrequency power during the discharge part of the pulse cycle. Measurements of local electron density and optical emission were made in capacitively-coupled rf discharges generated in a Gaseous Electronics Confe...

STUDY DESIGN Retrospective chart review. OBJECTIVES To determine the success rate and duration of relief of repeat radiofrequency neurotomy for lumbar facet joint pain. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA Radiofrequency neurotomy is an effective but temporary management of lumbar facet pain. When pain recurs, radiofrequency neurotomy is usually repeated, but the outcome and duration of relief for re...

OBJECTIVE To investigate the comparative treatment effects of ultrasound-guided pulsed radiofrequency treatment (UG-PRF) in the gastrocnemius interfascial space and ultrasound-guided interfascial injection (UG-INJ) on myofascial pain syndrome. METHODS Forty consecutive patients with myofascial pain syndrome of the gastrocnemius were enrolled and were allocated to one of the two groups. Twenty...

Radiofrequency thermoablation (RFA) is used to treat unresectable liver tumours. RFA is performed using an abdominal access (laparotomic, laparoscopic and percutaneous). A transpleurodiaphragmatic approach has recently been proposed, particularly for the treatment of tumours which are placed near to inferior vein cava and hepatic veins and which are difficult to reach for an abdominal access. A...

BACKGROUND Epidermal permeability alterations induced by ablative fractional resurfacing and low-frequency ultrasound technology may offer drug delivery for the treatment of hypertrophic scars through transepidermal drug delivery (TED). This technology can improve treatment efficacy and minimize side effects. OBJECTIVE To evaluate clinical response and side effects of TED technology in hypert...

Despite widespread use of radiofrequency (RF) shrinkage, there have been no animal studies on the effects of post-operative immobilisation on the histological properties of the shrunken tissue. We have therefore examined the role of post-operative immobilisation after RF shrinkage with special emphasis on the histological properties of collagenous tissue. One patellar tendon of 66 New Zealand W...