Randomized Controlled Trial:
Lumbar Medial Branch Cryoneurolysis
Versus Radiofrequency Ablation for
Chronic Low Back Pain

 

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this pilot study was to compare the effect of lumbar medial
branch cryoneurolysis to radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for treatment of chronic
low back pain

INTRODUCTION
• Chronic low back pain is a common condition
often treated with thermal ablation via RFA,
which destroys specific nerves to provide
pain relief1,2
• Cryoneurolysis is an alternative treatment
that applies cold temperatures to disrupt
nerve conduction pathways via Wallerian
degeneration and allows for nerve regrowth3;
however, data for treatment of low back pain
via cryoneurolysis are sparse

CONCLUSIONS

Cryoneurolysis was well tolerated and associated with durable pain reduction
that was significantly superior to RFA 1 year after treatment
Cryoneurolysis also led to improvements in functional disability and patients’
overall impression of change compared with RFA 1 year after treatment for low
back pain