Future indications

Abstract

Besides conventional indications of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in pain management, recently, several novel and trending therapeutic targets for RF have been studied. Different pain-producing components can be ablated or modulated by RF to relieve pain. These new indications of RF can be divided into headaches, postoperative pains, post-traumatic pains, postherpetic pain, entrapments nerve syndromes, facet joint pains, degenerative and inflammatory problems in the spine and joints, abdominal pain syndromes, tendinopathies, and painful malignant and metastatic lesions. Further, specific neuropathies such as phantom limb pain, diabetic neuropathy, chronic axonal polyneuropathy, chemotherapy, and cancer-induced neuropathy may be relieved by RF. Also, many pain syndromes are potential future indications of RF. They could 1 day be targeted by RF, as the RF can be applied to any area where nerves or target organs are found. Alongside exploring new indications, valuable progress is made in collaborative uses, improved technologies, safety features, and reduction of complications of RF in pain management. The variation of type or number of RF needles, different anatomical approaches, and combination therapies are examples of this advancements, which are under further investigations.